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January 9, 2003 Contact: Sandy Wood (503) 945-6530, Jim Sellers (503) 945-5738 Pharmacists invited to join new senior drug prescription program About 10 percent of Oregon's 750-plus pharmacy retailers have signed up so far for a new state program to help low-income seniors pay reduced prices for prescription drugs. The program, authorized by the 2001 Oregon Legislature, will be phased in beginning Feb. 1 and save participating seniors an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent on prescription-drug purchases. "We know that 57 percent of Oregon's seniors have no insurance for drug costs," said Lynn Read, acting state Medicaid director in the Oregon Department of Human Services. "This causes large numbers of them to take chances with their health by reducing dosages, failing to fill some prescriptions and cutting back on food or utilities." The 15 counties in which the program will begin Feb. 1 are Baker, Clatsop, Columbia, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Klamath, Lake, Sherman, Tillamook, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington and Wheeler. Read said participating seniors will pay the same price as that paid by the state Medicaid program. For example, if a prescription would normally retail for $115 but Medicaid can buy it for $100, then a senior would pay $100 with the dispensing pharmacy subsidizing the difference. An estimated 100,000 Oregon seniors are eligible to participate. Unlike California, whose similar program requires participation of pharmacies selling to the Medicaid program, the Oregon program is voluntary. Chains such as Kmart and Target and the mail-order pharmacy Wellpartner have signed up so far, and several other chains have indicated verbally that they intend to. "We are counting on the public spirit of Oregon pharmacists to sign up for this program to help struggling seniors whom they see every day," Read said. To be eligible, she said, a senior must be 65 or older, have income less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level ($16,392 annually for an individual), own liquid assets of less than $2,000 (excluding house and car), pay a $50 annual fee, and have had no prescription-drug coverage for at least six months. She said the $50 fee may be reduced once actual costs to operate the program are known. The program will begin in 15 Oregon counties on Feb. 1, nine more on March 1, and six more on April 1 and May 1. Read said the Governor's Commission on Senior Services reported that among Oregon seniors who are uninsured for prescription drug costs, 50 percent take partial doses to stretch medications, 83 percent skip filling prescriptions, 71 percent say they spend less on food, rent, heat and clothing to offset drug costs, and 22 percent buy drugs at savings from vendors in Canada or Mexico. |
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