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Saturday, October 18, 2008 3:00 AM Paying for free drugs Family calls clinic fees unnecessary By Janet Conner-Knox | Times Staff Writer Randy Nutter and his wife, Gloria, are a part of the AstraZeneca Patient Assistants Program that sends free drugs to families who don't have medical insurance and can't afford the cost of medicine. The Nutters are enrolled in the program through Carolina Family Health Centers on Green Street, which handles getting the drugs for them. But Randy Nutter said the health center charges him anywhere from $12 to $28.50 each time he gets a refill of those free drugs. Laura Owens, chief of pharmacy services at the clinic, said patients don't pay for the drugs, but they do pay a processing and dispensing fee for the service they provide. She said the processing and dispensing fee is $8 for a 30 day supply of each prescription. Randy Nutter doesn't believe he should have to pay at all for drugs that are being provided for free. "When you are put on the list to get the medicine, you are on the list for one year before you have to re-enroll," he said. "I don't know why I am being charged every time I go to get my medicine," To qualify for the program, you must fit the salary criteria the federal government has set up for being at poverty level, and not have Medicaid or any other federal or state program to help pay for medicines. The staff at Carolina Family helps by making sure the application to receive the free medicine is filled out properly, and they also include the prescriptions that Randy Nutter and his wife need. Randy Nutter is employed, but like over 40 million other Americans, he doesn't have health insurance because his employer does not provide it. Since he and his wife have pre-existing conditions, the cost for private health insurance would be impossible for the Nutters to afford. Owens said the clinic provides a service that ensures patients are getting exactly what they need. "We double check the medicines when they come in to make sure patients are getting the right dosages and the right count," said Owens. "We counsel patients and talk to them about side effects. We talk to them about things that maybe in small print that they may not see or understand." Owens said that around 700 patients take advantage of this service through the free medication program at the Green St. location. She said they have two full-time employees who only work on free medicine programs for patients. Dee Johnson, executive director of the health center, said many patients find it to be a relief to bring them the paperwork. "All they have to do is bring us the W-2 that goes along with the application," said Johnson. "We do everything else." Owens said just trying to get through to a real person on the phone can be trying. She also said some of the application requirements can be tricky. "There is one form where it says the doctor's signature can only be in blue ink," said Owens. "Not all patients would catch something like that, and a mistake would kick the application back to the patient. That would give the patient a lapse in the medicines they need." Johnson said that often elderly patients are not keeping up with refills on their prescriptions and run out. They have the doctor's information and can fill the prescription for them right away and make calls about the medicines that are coming in the mail. "There are lots of things people don't realize we do with this service," said Roy Bower, the health center's public information officer. "People probably don't think about their medicines sitting outside in the sun until they get home from work. But here they are taken in right away." Randy Nutter said the reasons for the processing fee does not hold water for him. He said he has been on the same medicines for a long time, and he does not require talking to the pharmacist. Randy Nutter said he is also aware of the dosage amounts and can check the medicines for himself. He said he does not mind calling the company, and has been able to fill out the application for himself, except for the part the doctor is supposed to sign off on. "My wife and I have very little money, and we can't afford to pay those prices," he said. "If we could afford to pay what the clinic charges, then we would not need to be in the free drug program." Johnson said that patients who want their help in getting the free drugs will have the processing fee. She said it is a part of their service that they believe has benefits for the patient. Owens said they refer patients to the Salvation Army and the Department of Social Services for help with the processing fee if they can't afford the fee. The Nutters were not aware they could seek assistance with the processing fee. Other doctors' offices in Wilson also have patients who are in the special programs where pharmaceutical companies offer free medicines. Wilson Family Practice Center on N.C. 42, for instance, said they assist the patients with filling out applications, and the drugs come to the home of the patient free of charge. Laura Woodin, manager of media relations for AstraZeneca, said they work with community health centers all across the country giving qualified people free medications. They said they don't have anything to do with the policies the health centers may have. They said individuals may participate in the program without going through a community health center, but the patient will need to have the doctor's signature and need to be under a doctor's care. The doctor will still be required to write the prescription. janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847 |
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Stephen said...
This is a non-story! The headline ought to read: Stupid Couple Wants to be Spoon-fed for Free. If Ms. Conner-Knox is so concerned about these poor people, why does she not just explain to them that they can get the free drugs by doing the work themselves? Better yet, why not do the work for them, Ms. Conner-Knox?
Monday, October 20, 2008 at 11:28 AM
This is a non-story! The headline ought to read: Stupid Couple Wants to be Spoon-fed for Free. If Ms. Conner-Knox is so concerned about these poor people, why does she not just explain to them that they can get the free drugs by doing the work themselves? Better yet, why not do the work for them, Ms. Conner-Knox?
Monday, October 20, 2008 at 11:28 AM
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