DRUG DISCOUNT PLAN AIMED AT UNINSURED.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - A prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, plan touted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] would give 40 percent discounts on medications to 5 million uninsured, low-income Californians, his administration said Thursday. Democrats and a coalition of health-care advocacy groups attacked the program as inadequate and ineffective. They are pushing a plan to help consumers import cheaper drugs from Canada, based on a bill Schwarzenegger vetoed last year because of safety and legal concerns. The governor's California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Rx plan calls for creating a discount-card program for uninsured residents living at or under 300 percent of the federal poverty level - an income of $27,930 for individuals and $56,550 for a family of four. The cost of the discounts would be shared between the pharmaceutical industry and drug stores. The discounted prices would be comparable to the lowest prices paid by any bulk commercial purchaser in California, the administration said. ``Gov. Schwarzenegger has made it a top priority to do all he can to make medicines more affordable and more available for uninsured low-income Californians,'' said Health and Human Services Noun 1. Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Department of Health and Human Services, HHS Secretary Kimberly Belshe. But the program would be voluntary, prompting some health-care advocates and legislators to question whether enough pharmaceutical companies will participate to make it work. Critics also noted that other states with similar programs apply them to people at 400 percent or 500 percent of the federal poverty level. ``We're not going to support something that is an empty gesture,'' said Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer Dario Frommer (born October 22, 1963 in Long Beach, California) was a member of the California State Assembly from 2000 until 2006. He served as Majority Leader from 2004 until 2006. Frommer also served as Chair of the Health Committee. , D-Glendale, author of a new Canadian New Canadian Noun Canad a recent immigrant to Canada drug importation bill. ``We want to support a state assistance program that is going to bring meaningful relief for a lot of Californians. There's no way that his program will do that.'' The Cal Rx plan includes the creation of a Web site clearinghouse that will help Californians enroll in various discount programs and direct them to where they can get the best prices. The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association has agreed to contribute $10 million to help market the program and create the Web site. The creation of the Web site does not require legislative approval. The state general fund will contribute about $4 million to administer the program. Consumers who participate in the program will pay a $15 annual fee. Groups supporting the plan include the California Medical Association, AARP AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization dedicated to "enriching the experience of aging"; membership is open to people age 50 or older. Founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus as American Association of Retired Persons, AARP now has over 30 million and the California Pharmacists This is a list of notable pharmacists.
Harrison Sheppard, (916)446-6723 harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com |
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