Manufacturer Prescription Assistance Program The increasing cost of pharmaceuticals affects low-income elderly, disabled and uninsured persons more intensely than other populations. These individuals have difficulty affording prescription drugs and may be forced to choose between buying medicine and paying for other necessities. Some private organizations, including pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and private providers, offer assistance to individuals to gain access to medicines. The number of people receiving assistance through patient-assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies increased by more than 50% from 1997 to 2000 (Kansas Health Policy Forums, January 2002). However, the application process and eligibility criteria, which vary between companies, are too cumbersome for many of the patients who may not only be uninsured but also have low levels of education. KAMU supports the prescription assistance programs (PAPs) run by the safety net clinics that allow qualified patients who have exhausted other options and have no insurance or personal resources, to receive free or low-cost medications. Since 2002 KAMU has placed 17 AmeriCorps members in primary care clinics to assist more than 20,000 low-income individuals receive free prescription drugs. KAMU distributed, free of charge, copies of prescription assistance software, and provided training so that clinics can track PAP applications and submit reports to donors. KAMU also gathered information about other PAP programs in the country and developed a tool kit to help clinics to succeed with their programs. 340 B Program Through KAMU’s advocacy efforts the safety net clinics have received more than 1 million dollars from state and private foundation funds to support PAPs and 340 B programs. Section 340B of the federal Public Health Service Act requires drug manufacturers to provide significant discounts to a specified set of federally recognized organizations that serve low income patients, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes. (There are twelve FQHCs/Look-Alikes that are members of KAMU). In most instances, FQHCs contract with a local pharmacy to dispense prescriptions written by staff providers, though FQHCs may have in-house pharmacies to dispense 340B drugs. Drugs purchased through 340B are, generally speaking, significantly less expensive than retail prescriptions with the overall goal of the program being to increase health outcomes for the medically underserved by making prescription drugs more accessible. Through the advocacy of KAMU and its member clinics in 2005, the state legislature added funds to the state budget to help Kansas FQHCs/Look-Alikes establish or expand 340B programs. These funds were supplemented by funds from The Sunflower Foundation and from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. KAMU has provided direct technical assistance in the establishment of 340B programs and has also coordinated technical assistance for members from consultants with the federal Office of Pharmacy Affairs. COMMUNITY RX KANSAS CommunityRx Kansas provides discounted medication to uninsured Kansans through two local Kansas firms: Prescription Network of Kansas and Right Choice Pharmacy, and their statewide network of participating pharmacies. The program makes many medications affordable for Kansans without prescription coverage and whose household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (200% FPL). Governor Kathleen Sebelius launched the new program statewide in January, 2006. Families may enroll in CommunityRx Kansas for no charge. Prescription Network of Kansas Enrollment Form To request additional information about the CommunityRx Kansas program, please contact the Division of Health Policy and Finance Landon State Office Building The following clinics received funding during 2005. Caritas Clinic
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