Program Director Ingrid Gifford, Coordinator Amy Reyes and members of Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group’s Rx for Oklahoma staff serve as patient advocates, connecting qualifying people with pharmaceutical manufacturing companies that provide free prescription medications.

For 50 clients in Jackson, Harmon and Greer counties from January 1 to June 17, SOCAG’s Rx for Oklahoma staff processed claims to pharmaceutical companies for 91 medications, valued at $52,332. In addition to Gifford and Reyes, the staff at SOCAG that filed the claims included Tephanie Carman, Olivia Gonzales and Kelly Baker.

The number of clients continues to grow as the public becomes aware of the services provided through the program. “A lot of Oklahomans are uninsured; they have no health insurance and no prescription drug insurance,” said Gifford, who administers the program. “Prescription medications are very expensive, but nearly all pharmaceuticals give out free medications. Each pharmaceutical has its own standards and guidelines.”

Since the Oklahoma Legislature initiated the program on Dec. 1, 2005, Rx for Oklahoma has helped more than 15,000 people across the state access prescription assistance programs provided by pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. The Legislature set up and funded processing centers where staff members research the best patient options and then apply to the pharmaceuticals for free medicines.

According to Reyes, “It’s a very beneficial service. Personally, I feel like there are people that haven’t heard about it and need to come and see what we can do for them. We don’t always have success in finding a perfect fit because each pharmaceutical company is unique; but we look at all the options to see which best suits the patient, whether it’s discounted programs through Rx Outreach or going through generic plans at local pharmacies.”

Oklahoma residents, regardless of age--uninsured or underinsured--are encouraged to apply. Medicare Part D and Medicaid beneficiaries with unique circumstances may qualify for prescription assistance. In Altus, call 482-5040. People in Harmon and Greer counties may call the statewide toll-free number, 1-877-RX4-OKLA. The Rx staff at SOCAG will then contact the client. For more information, go to www.RX4OKLA.com. Those applying for the program should provide proof of the following: age, address, gross annual household income, complete list of current medications, physician information and insurance coverage (if applicable).

Reyes remembered one gentleman that contacted Rx for Oklahoma after a kidney transplant. Due to his need for numerous medications, his out-of-pocket expenses skyrocketed, as well as his employer’s insurance expenditures. “They terminated his employment and cut his insurance coverage the same day. So he came to us and we were able to help him enroll in the programs that offered all of his medications for free,” Reyes said.

When a patient contacts Rx for Oklahoma at SOCAG, the staff prepares an initial application, mails it to the doctor’s office for a written prescription and the doctor’s signature and then sends the application to the pharmaceutical company. Gifford said most southwest Oklahoma physicians willingly cooperate, and most patients are accepted into the program for a calendar year; however, some pharmaceutical companies require reapplication every three months. The Rx for Oklahoma staff also facilitates refills.

To qualify for assistance, patients can make up to 200 percent of the 2009 poverty income guidelines: $21,600, family of one; $29,140, family of two; $36,620, family of three; $44,100, family of four; $51,580, family of five; etc. Due to the economy, some pharmaceuticals extend the service to families making 300 percent of the poverty income guidelines; others offer the service to hardship cases and those requiring medications that exceed 3 percent of the family’s annual income.

“Every case is different. Somebody with a huge amount of medical costs is very likely to qualify anyway; or someone on Medicare may not think they qualify, but when they get into the ‘donut’ hole--where they have to pay out of pocket--we can often help them for that period of time,” Gifford said.”

Most prescription assistance in southwest Oklahoma goes for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart problems; the program is not geared to help people with injuries or in need of immediate prescriptions. Normally, new patients must wait four weeks to receive the medication; however, telephone enrollment for certain prescriptions, such as asthma medications, sometimes yields an immediate voucher to take to a pharmacy.

“I remember the lady that left in tears when she found we could save her $500 a month. She was caring for a young adult son with asthma so severe that he was disabled. She walked out of here with a voucher for a 60-day supply of two medications for about $10 each. After that they were free, but in order to get her immediate help it had to be a little bit out of pocket,” Gifford said. “Her son hadn’t been taking his medication appropriately; people sometimes don’t take the medication like they’re supposed to and end up with more problems.”

SOCAG’s Rx staff can also assist people with applications for the Oklahoma Rx Discount Card; people with or without insurance may qualify for thousands of medications with the discount card. However, Oklahomans with needs for monetary assistance are referred to local churches.

People receiving Medicaid are allowed six punches per month on the Medicaid card. “If they only get six punches, they get six medications. If they’ve got 15 medications and they only get six punches, they’ve got nine medicines that aren’t going to be covered; they have no medication left if they get sick. We could enroll them,” Gifford said.

“We feel that lots of people in this area are either not aware that the service is there or can’t believe that it’s true. Sometimes people look at the income guidelines and think, ‘I make too much money.’ I can think of several people that made too much money; but because of their circumstances, we were very successful in helping them.”

“The Rx for Oklahoma program has provided help to many people in southwest Oklahoma,” said Neil Montgomery, executive director, Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, Inc.