All such programs

base eligibility on income and insurance status, which means that the

applicant must show a need for medication assistance. Each participating

drug company has its own application paperwork and process, and requires

the participation of the prescribing physician.

The various

drug manufacturers who sponsor these programs make decisions about which

medications are offered free of charge, what their eligibility criteria

is, and which applicants are accepted. Individuals with family incomes

ranging from below the national poverty level up to $50,000 annually can

qualify. Those qualifying at the highest income levels are generally AIDS

patients requiring very expensive drugs.

For an individual

who takes several medications, the process of figuring out which company

manufactures each drug, and which of the identified companies has a drug

assistance program, then contacting each for an application, can be complicated

and overwhelming. However, The Medicine Program is a program that does

all the legwork for the applicant.

They provide

a simple form, which the applicant fills out and mails in with a processing

fee of $5 per medication requested. The program takes the information

provided and (according to their pamphlet) "builds a customized packet,

which describes the specific steps to be taken by the patient and the

doctor to proceed with the application process. When these steps have

been accomplished, the completed application(s) are sent to the appropriate

manufacturer to be considered. If the patient is approved, within 2-3

weeks the medications are normally sent to the physician's office to be

dispensed to the patient."

The Fayette

County Health Department has pamphlets for The Medicine Program on hand.

On the other hand, if you have computer access, you can download the information

from the Web at www.themedicineprogram.com .

If you prefer

to do the research yourself, there is an excellent resource entitled The

Directory of Prescription Drug Assistance Programs 2001-2002. The Pharmaceutical

Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) produce this information.

It too is available at the health department, or online at www.phrma.org/patients/ .

Let your physician's

office know of your financial situation and ask them if they have any

information about medication assistance programs. You might also ask your

doctor to let you try samples of a new medication to see if it will provide

the desired results before writing a prescription for it. Or request that

your pharmacist fill only half the prescription until you and your physician

can determine if a new medication is right for you.

No one should

ever have to choose between buying food or needed medications. Medication

assistance programs seek to free up family income vital to maintaining

the necessities of life (food, shelter, etc.), by providing medications

vital to the health, and sometimes very life of the individual.

These programs

will help if you do not have insurance coverage for outpatient prescription

drugs; have an income that is at a level that causes a hardship when the

purchase of medication at retail cost is required; or do not qualify for

a government or third party program that provides for prescription medication.

You my pick

up The Medicine Program pamphlets (containing applications), and/or a

copy of the PhRMA directory at the Fayette County Health Department, 140

Stonewall Ave West, Suite 107, Fayetteville, GA. For questions, please

call us at 770-461-1178, ext. 5416.

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