West Virginia Rx helps provide prescription drugs

Michelle James

Nov. 5, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Although more than 200,000 West Virginians qualify for free prescription medication through West Virginia Rx, only about 17,000 people are actually enrolled in the program.

That participation rate of less than 7 percent is something Brenda Dane, executive director of West Virginia Rx, is trying to change.

Dane stopped at Country Inns and Suites in Beckley Wednesday, talking to community leaders in hopes they would spread information regarding the program.

"A lot of people in the community don't know that a program (to help with medications) exists," Dane said.

West Virginia Rx is a statewide program that provides prescription drugs at no cost to uninsured state residents who have a yearly income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $21,660 for a household of one, adding $7,800 for each additional person.

Dane says that assistance can make a huge impact for those who receive it.

"If a person is committed to their medication and is not splitting it in half, their quality of life and number of years lost will increase and in turn be reduced," she said. "Quality of life is what it's all about."

The program, the first in the country, began in 2008 and is sponsored by Gov. Joe Manchin's office, the Heinz Family Philanthropies and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Controlled and generic medications are not provided by the program, which receives donated medicine in bulk from nine pharmaceutical companies.

What are provided, however, are brand name prescriptions for conditions such as heart and blood pressure, seizures, eye health, nausea, arthritis and migraines.

In order to qualify for assistance, patients must be residents of West Virginia, meet the income requirements, have no drug coverage and not be a patient at a free clinic or primary care center.

Those who are enrolled in the program receive their medication by mail and Dane says the medicine is mailed out within 24 hours of the acceptance of an application.

"It's a pretty simple process," she said, adding her staff will also help those not accepted, referring them to pharmaceutical companies that provide assistance.

Dane says the goal for 2009 is to increase enrollment in the program by an additional 15,000.

"We would like to help every person who has ever struggled with obtaining their medication because they can't afford it or don't know how to get it for free, to know there's help," she said. "We can help them navigate that system very quickly versus them trying to figure it out themselves."

Dane says it is easy to apply for the program. Applications are available by calling 1-877-388-WVRX(9879) or by visiting www.wvrx.com, where a complete list of provided medications can be found.

-- E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0382-39478020