OHIO SENIOR CITIZENS Discount drugs proposed

Ohio residents 60 and older would be eligible for a prescription drug discount.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A coalition fighting for affordable prescription drugs and a group representing pharmaceutical companies have come up with a proposed drug discount program that some say could be a model for the nation.
The proposed drug discount program, called Ohio's Best Rx, would provide prescription-drug discounts of between 25 percent to 40 percent, depending on the drug and other factors, the groups said.
"It, in fact, is a victory for the people of Ohio," William Burga said Thursday. Burga is the president of the Ohio AFL-CIO and a co-chair of the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs, comprising 18 labor unions and other groups.
"It could be a model for other states," Burga said.
"Pharmaceutical manufacturers are pleased to have arrived at an agreement with the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs to seek legislation that will provide Ohioans with significant prescription drug discounts while preserving consumer choice and access," drug manufacturers spokesman Kurt Malmgren said.
Malmgren is senior vice president of government affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group.
Who is eligible
Under the proposal, which will be submitted to the Republican-dominated General Assembly for consideration, Ohio residents 60 and older, regardless of their income, will be eligible for a prescription drug discount.
Also covered under the group's proposal will be Ohio residents without prescription-drug coverage whose income is no greater than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that would be $42,500, coalition spokesman Dale Butland said.
If the program is enacted, a participant would receive a card to present to receive a discount. The program would use the buying power of state employee health care plans to obtain the best discounts for senior citizens and uninsured, poor Ohioans.
Administration
The program, to be administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, also would set up a prescription-drug review commission, to be made up of state lawmakers and advocacy groups, to ensure the program is run effectively.
Under the new program, if a drug company refuses to provide discounts to the program but still provides the discounts to state employee health-care plans, the state would mandate that those drugs to receive prior approval from the state before they are prescribed, Butland, the coalition spokesman, said.
If drug companies provide the discounts to the program as well as state employee health care plans, their drugs won't have to be placed on a so-called prior authorization list, Butland said.
Backers of the proposed program say they believe it will be able to reach about 80 percent of the 2.2 million uninsured or uncovered senior citizens in the state.