19 October 2005

Governor: Help with prescription costs will be available at health clinics

Kansans will receive help paying for prescriptions through local health clinics, Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced today.  Twenty safety-net clinics and health centers have received a total of $750,000 in grants to be used to help Kansans get access to prescriptions.

“Prescription drug costs are hard for many Kansans to afford.  We have a responsibility to help ensure our fellow Kansans are able to receive the health care they deserve.  Now, they’ll be able to get the help they need,” Governor Sebelius said.

The grants will help clinics assist Kansans in applying for public and private prescription assistance programs.  They’re part of Governor Sebelius’ commitment to help meet community health care needs by cooperating with local, federal and private industry health initiatives.

With dedicated staff at the clinics and health centers, patients will have help with the application process and eligibility requirements in order to obtain free or low-cost supplies and pharmaceuticals through manufacturers’ low-income drug programs.

“The grants will allow existing community-based public or not-for-profit primary care clinics to hire staff to work with public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies,” said Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby.

The KDHE Prescription Drug Assistance Program joins the ranks of public and private initiatives to make prescription drugs more affordable to working families and seniors.  The Healthy Kansas initiative, established by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger in November 2004, emphasized the need to assist Kansans in accessing free-or-reduced-cost medications. 

A feature of Healthy Kansas is a web-based resource guide for Kansas residents to obtain local assistance and information from clinics such as these recognized today and other community service partners, which is available at www.healthykansas.org .

The following programs (by community) were awarded grant funding:

Dodge City / Garden City - United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries ($70,000)

Emporia – Flint Hills Community Health Center ($70,000)

Great Bend – We Care, Inc. ($20,000)

Hutchinson - Prairie Star Community Healthy Center ($20,000)

Junction City – Konza Prairie Community Health Center ($45,000)

Kansas City, KS – Swope Parkway Health Center ($50,000)

Lawrence – Health Care Access, Inc. ($10,000)

Leavenworth / Kansas City, KS – Caritas: Duchesne & St. Vincent ($25,000)

Manhattan – Riley County/Manhattan Health Clinic ($15,000)

Newton – Health Ministries Clinic ($20,000)

Olathe / Overland Park – Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County ($30,000)

Pittsburg – Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas ($60,000)

Salina – Salina Family Health / Salina Health Education Foundation ($60,000)

Topeka – Marian Clinic ($20,000); Shawnee County Health Agency ($45,000)

Wichita –Good Samaritan Clinic ($20,000); Grace Med ($70,000); Guadalupe Clinic ($20,000); Hunter Health Clinic ($60,000); Sedgwick County Health Department ($20,000)