Category:
Drug Prices
Region:
USA
State:
Colorado
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DISCOUNT DRUG BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
Date: 5-Feb-2007
Author: Marshall Zelinger
The cost for your prescription drugs could be going down. Governor Bill Ritter signed his first bill into law this morning. But the law that will provide discounts for generic drugs for more than 250,000 Coloradoans, won't help you until this time next year.
"The higher prices for insurance for a family of four, it's really expensive," says uninsured Colorado Springs resident Kenneth Vialpando.
Not everyone is eligible for the discount though. There's a criteria that must be met:
Uninsured Colorado resident
Don't qualify for Medicaid or other state help
Family Income is less than 3X the poverty level
(Example: family of four, making less than $60,000)
If you qualify for the discounts, you'll have to register with the state after the New Year and pay a $20 enrollment fee to get a discount drug card.
"A lot of (the uninsured), it's a basis of having food or buying prescription drugs," says Joseph Ruskin of Pikes Peak Pharmacy, which will honor the program.
"It's up to the individual pharmacy and chain store, what they want to do, but at this time I would see no reason why anyone would not want to participate in the program," says Ruskin.
When sign-ups begin next year, Vialpando plans to be in line, considering his current drug costs.
"Some (of my) prescriptions are probably well into the 100-dollar range," says Vialpando.
What's still not known is how much the generic drugs will actually cost, but the Governor's office predicts a savings of 80%. The drugs can't be sold for less than they actually cost, so expect similar discounts to that of Wal-Mart and Target.
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