Thousands of Hawaii's poor will get free prescription drugs from a statewide program launched Friday with a $3 million check from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Prescription Care Hawaii
offers free drugs for needyLingle says that the plan will
operate at no cost to taxpayersAssociated Press
Gov. Linda Lingle said the Prescription Care Hawaii program is a public-private effort expected to help 20,000 of the state's needy get vital medication at no cost to taxpayers.
The program links patients to various pharmaceutical company assistance programs that donate free drugs.
Lingle said it's not meant to solve the overall problem of soaring drug costs, but to immediately help those most in need.
She plans to convene a meeting next week of her health and social services directors and key legislators to discuss a prescription drug plan for those not now covered by insurance.
Lingle said it could mean working on prescription drug programs passed last year or finding some other way.
The two-year Prescription Care Hawaii program is based on the IndiCare Program established at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
That program serves about 600 low-income patients -- overwhelmingly senior citizens -- who are unable to afford medications even after seeking funding through sources such as Medicaid and the Office of Veterans Affairs.
Lingle said she expected the statewide program to be fully operational within six months.
It will be implemented in phases, starting with an immediate expansion of the Maui program, establishing a call center and several new distribution sites on Oahu. The second phase will include the establishment of the other sites around the state.