Medication Assistance Program

Tuesday, February 10th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A program designed to provide free or discounted prescription drugs to Oklahoma senior citizens and the underprivileged apparently is going largely unnoticed.

Phil Woodward, executive director of the state pharmacists association, told state leaders Monday that the ``Medication Assistance Program'' needs to be expanded and improved.

``Many Oklahomans don't have a clue that there are programs out there to help them in this area of great need,'' Woodward said.

Woodward is a member of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Council, which sent a report to Gov. Brad Henry and the Legislature outlining changes in the program.

In each of the past two years, about 100,000 Oklahomans benefited from the program sponsored by American pharmaceutical companies.

More than $18 million worth of prescription drugs were provided free or at a reduced price based primarily on individual income and insurance availability. About 6,000 mentally ill Oklahomans were assisted with drug purchases.

The pharmacy council believes many more Oklahomans could be helped if they knew about the program and had help filling out complicated eligibility forms.