Prescription Drugs Links

Model Programs & Best Practices

National Governor's Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices
www.nga.org/

Description: The NGA Center for Best Practices tracks state efforts to provide pharmaceutical assistance to the elderly, persons with disabilities and the uninsured. The Center provides research and analysis for states on emerging issues and state best practices.

Information Available: Reports, issue briefs, meeting summaries, and other on-line documents; including analysis of model state pharmaceutical programs.

Policy:

California HealthCare Foundation
www.chcf.org/topics/index.cfm?topic=CL116

Description: The California HealthCare Foundation was established in 1996 with the mission to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of the people of California.

Information Available: Reports, guides, studies, issue briefs, and policy tools regarding prescription drugs.

Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), State Issues
www.cfpa.org/

Description: The Center for Policy Alternatives, the nation's leading nonpartisan progressive public policy and leadership development center, serves state legislators, state policy organizations, and state grassroots leaders.

Information Available: Provides an overview of the prescription drug situation in the U.S., as well as updates on 2003 legislative action related to this issue. Also contains information concerning model legislation, and reports and issue briefs on the topic of prescription drugs.

Families USA - Voice for Health Care Consumers
http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/prescription-drugs/

Description: Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.

Information Available: Health policy reports describing the problems facing health care consumers and outlining steps to solve them; a consumer clearinghouse for information about prescription drugs.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
www.kff.org/rxdrugs/index.cfm

Description: The Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent philanthropy, focuses on the major health care issues of the nation. The Foundation is a source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the healthcare community and the general public.

Information Available: Reports, issue briefs, fact sheets, case studies and survey results on policy issues related to prescription drugs.

National Conference of State Legislatures
www.ncsl.org/programs/health/pharm.htm

Description: Founded in 1975 as a bipartisan organization, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides the nation's lawmakers and staff an open, national forum to communicate with one another and share ideas.

Information Available: Pharmaceutical information including: recent legislative activity, court rulings, meeting/forum/seminar information, reports, statistics, and comprehensive links to non-NCSL reports, research and articles. Also includes details on "best practice" state-initiated pharmaceutical programs.

Missouri Government:

Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri Rx Plan
http://morx.mo.gov/index.htm

Description: The Missouri legislature passed House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 4 during the 2001 Special Session. Signed into law by Governor Holden, this legislation created the Missouri SenioRx Program within the Division of Aging in the Department of Health and Senior Services. This program helps defray the cost of prescription drugs for elderly Missouri residents.

Information Available: Overview of the SenioRx program, fact sheets, press releases, eligibility guidelines, FAQs, and a listing of public hearings.

Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services-
Missouri Medicaid Pharmacy Program
www.heritage-info.com/mocaidrx/

Description: The Division of Medical Services administers the Missouri Medicaid program, providing medical services to eligible beneficiaries. Significantly expanded in 1991, the Missouri Medicaid Pharmacy Program provides prescription drug services to Medicaid recipients.

Information Available: Description of Missouri Medicaid pharmacy services, pharmacy bulletins, Drug Use Review newsletter, Missouri drug coverage policies, and a list of drugs excluded from coverage under the pharmacy program.

Prescription Assistance Programs:

Indigent Prescription Programs
www.edhayes.com/indigent.html

Description: The research-based pharmaceutical industry has had a long standing tradition of providing prescription medications free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medications.

Information Available: This site contains a list of names and telephone numbers of prescription drug companies that have indigent programs in place.

NeedyMeds
www.needymeds.com

Description: NeedyMeds is an information source to assist individuals who can not afford prescription drugs.

Information Available: Contact information for patient assistance programs which can be accessed by drug or program name. Also includes Medicaid links, Federal Poverty Guidelines, pharmaceutical discount card comparisons and news articles.

Prescription Assistance Programs:
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
www.pparx.org

Description: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through either a public or private program. Many will get them free or nearly free. The agency's mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible.

Information Available: The site offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Individuals can determine which programs they may be eligible for by answering questions and using the online application wizard.