Thursday, March 15, 2001
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Relief from prescriptions costs appears to be in sight for Trumbull County senior citizens.
Trumbull County commissioners committed $89,274 for the Prescription Drug Assistance Program for Seniors at their meeting Wednesday.
The money will pay for two employees, laptops and software. The employees will train volunteers from SCOPE Inc. of Trumbull County which will administer the program.
Paper jam: Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. said many drug companies offer seniors who meet income guidelines free or reduced-price medication. But the problem is the paperwork that must be completed to determine if a senior meets an individual company's guidelines.
"There are 80 to 100 drug companies and they all have different forms," said Janet Schweitzer, executive director of SCOPE. "If doctors' offices tried to do all the paperwork they wouldn't have time to do anything else."
The employees and volunteers will complete the paperwork for seniors. The software determines whether a senior citizen is eligible to receive prescription assistance.
Schweitzer estimated that 400 people in the county will benefit from the program.
Angelo expects the program to save Trumbull County seniors at least $300,000 in its first year. Ashtabula runs a similar program, upon which Trumbull's effort is based, and East Liverpool in Columbiana County also offers a similar plan.
"With the money they'll save, senior citizens will be able to pay high utility bills, put more food on the table or buy warmer clothes for the winter," Angelo said.
Schweitzer expects to have the program up and running in about two months. The District XI Area Agency on Aging brought the program to the attention of SCOPE, which approached commissioners.
Steely resolve: In other business, commissioners approved a resolution requiring the use of domestic steel in projects funded with local tax dollars.
Mahoning County commissioners passed a similar resolution earlier this month.