websites for coping with the downsizing of medicare and medicaid

[Guest guest]

1) http://www.phrma.org - this is the official website of the Pharmaceutical

Research and manufacturers of America. The site features a link to an official

directory of phar maceutical company-sponsored for assistance programs that can

help low-income patients with their prescriptions. This directory allows

patients to seach for assistance programs by manufacturer and provides

information about enrolling in programs to receive discounted of free medicines.

2) http://www.medicare.gov - This website provides information about healthcare

options under Medicare or complementary to medicare under its " Prescription Drug

Assistance Program " section. Consumers may access personalized information

about Medigap plans, Medicare Managed Care Plans, state assistance programs,

pharmaceutical company programs and other kinds of insurance, by entering a

zip code and/or prescription drug name and manufacturer name.

3) http://www.rxhope.com - This website offers resources for consumers,

advocates

and health care providers in accessing patient assistance programs offered by

federal, state, county and charitable organizations.

4) http://www.needymeds.com - This website provides information on drug assis

tance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Information can be acces

sed by drug name and drug company.

For your or your child's or spouse's or partner's physician/clinic only:

5) http://www.rxassist.org - This website allows health care professionals to ac

cess more than 100 pharmaceutical manufacturer's patient assistant programs

on behalf of their patients. Searches may be conducted by company name,

brand drug name, generic name or drug therapy class, and applications forms are

available on line for the programs.

For the state of California only:

http://www.rtk.org - This is the official website of the Citizens for the Right

to

Know in California. This website provides consumers with information about

their health plans, including an interactive link with information on drug

formularies

for the state of California and general information that may be useful for

residents

of other states. The website provides about choosing a health plan and what con

sumers should do if they do not receive appropriate and timely access to care.

http://www.smartcoalition.org - This is the official website of the SMARTxT

Coalition

of California. which conducts the " Senior Medication Awareness Training

Program, "

an education outreach effort to help increase the proper useage of medications.

The site also includes general information on questions to ask your doctor and

pharmacist; helpful medication hints; and medication problems to look out for.

I have a list of many other pharmaceutical resources as well, and in order to

spare

me the typing, and you the tedium; I will post parts of the rest separately.

I do hope this this shall have proved helpful; anything which applies to

" seniors "

under federal law at this time, still applies to those on Social Security

Disability

Income.

Love to all on all my favorite lists,

n Rojas