Free prescription drugs available for some Pennsylvania residents

HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Rod Wilt, R-Greenville, is urging residents who are low-income, disabled and without health insurance coverage to take advantage of a free prescription drug benefit offering $600 worth of generic medications.
The drug benefit, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging PACE prescription program, is part of a 2004 settlement between the state Attorney General's Office, 19 other states and Medco Health Solutions Inc., the nation's largest pharmacy benefits manager.
The settlement resolved claims that Medco violated the Commonwealth's unfair trade practice laws. The company allegedly persuaded doctors to switch patients to different medications on the basis that it would save money, but did not always pass the savings on to individual patients or their health plans.
Under the settlement, Medco agreed to provide the states with funds to assist consumers with their prescription drug costs. Pennsylvania's share of $1.8 million will be used to defray medication costs for about 3,000 residents.
Those who wish to enroll in the benefit should contact the PACE Clearinghouse at (800) 955-0989, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who qualify will receive the benefit for use through April 2006.