Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs:
Programs and Initiatives in Ohio
November 17, 2003 – Columbus

This forum focused on access to affordable prescription drugs and how Ohio is addressing this issue. As Congress continues to debate a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Ohio has forged ahead with programs and initiatives that offer discounts on medicines for qualified patients.

Invited speakers for this forum provided OAHCA members with information and updates on the following:

• Ohio’s Best Rx
• Golden Buckeye Program
• Medicare proposal for prescription drugs
• Rx for Ohio

“Ohio’s Best Rx” is a proposed plan to help Ohio seniors, as well as low-income uninsured Ohioans with access to prescription medicines. The plan is a drug discount program based on existing discounts already negotiated by the State of Ohio for state employees and retirees. The proposal was jointly developed by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Tim Burga of the Coalition and Jim Ruvolo of PhRMA spoke with OAHCA members about the plan and its current status in the Ohio General Assembly.

Currently the “Ohio’s Best Rx” plan has been introduced as House Bill 311 and Senate Bill 138 for consideration before the Ohio General Assembly. Once a bill is approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the program will be administered by the State of Ohio. Click here for a fact sheet on “Ohio’s Best Rx.”

The Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program serves seniors and disabled Ohioans with savings on prescription healthcare services. The program allows Golden Buckeye card holders to pay a special state-contracted price for a prescription, or the pharmacy’s normal cash price, whichever is lower. Roland Hornbostel from the Ohio Department of Aging spoke with OAHCA members about the program and how it works for Ohio seniors. Click here for more information on the Golden Buckeye program or click here for a report on activity in the program through November 10, 2003.

The proposed Medicare prescription drug benefit continues to be debated in Congress. During the November 17 meeting, Phil Park, legislative assistant to Senator Voinovich, provided an update on the progress of this proposal.

The discussion on prescription drug programs finished with a brief review of the Rx for Ohio program. Rx for Ohio offers a clearinghouse of information on patient assistance programs offered by drug companies and government initiatives. It can be accessed through the internet at www.rxforohio.org, or through a toll-free phone number at 1-877-RX-4-OHIO (1-877-794-6446). Visitors or callers to Rx for Ohio can swiftly find information on more than 325 patient assistance programs that correspond to more than 1,400 medicines. Click here for a PowerPoint presentation that explains how to use RX for Ohio.

Corporate Fundraising
Following the presentations on prescription drug initiatives in Ohio, the November 17 meeting finished with a panel discussion on corporate fundraising.

Panelists discussed the elements of successful solicitation of funding and support for charitable organizations. Guest panelists included:

• Elfi Di Bella, Vice President and Director of Community Affairs for Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
• Karen Blickley, Community Services Manager for Nationwide Foundation
• Tracey Wilson, Corporate Giving Manager, The Longaberger Company
• Steve Knuth, consultant for PhRMA

All panelists offered experienced guidance and advice on what to do, and what not do to, when approaching corporations for support. Steve Knuth discussed the “code of conduct” recently adopted by the pharmaceutical industry for company representatives, and how it applies to drug companies’ support for health charities.

Following are highlights from the panelists’ discussion on approaching corporations for funding or support:

• Be familiar with the company and know the name of the person who receives such requests. Do not send a letter with a “dear sir or madam” salutation.
• Find out about the company’s parameters on giving and the causes that the company supports. This information is usually available on a Web site.
• Call and ask for information if you don’t know. Ask to whom a funding request letter should be addressed and anything else you want to understand about the company’s approach to philanthropy.
• Build relationships with the philanthropic staff of a company. Invite them to come tour your offices or to see your services in action.
• State upfront what you want and how much funding you are seeking. This is not considered rude but is helpful to the person reviewing the thousands of requests that are received from charitable organizations.
• Include all information that is required in a request for funding and be sure to include a cover letter with a signature. If you don’t get a response in a timely manner, make a follow up call.
• Remember to consider asking for in-kind donations. Some companies may offer things such as computers, furniture, printing services or other goods and services.
• Check a company’s web site, or ask for instructions on charitable requests, giving parameters, a calendar of giving, geographic boundaries or other considerations.
  

"Ohio's Best Rx"
Fact sheet on "Ohio's Best Rx", a proposed plan to help Ohio seniors, as well as low-income uninsured Ohioans with access to prescription medicines

Golden Buckeye Program
A PDF fact sheet with details on the Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program that serves seniors and disabled Ohioans with savings on prescription healthcare services

Golden Buckeye Program
A report detailing activity of the the Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program

Where can you go to get help with prescription medications?
A Powerpoint presentation providing an overview of Rx for Ohio and how to get help with prescription medications

Click on a thumbnail to view the full image in a new window:

	Tim Burga, of the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs, makes a point during his presentation of the Ohio's Best RX proposal. From the left, Roland Hornbostel and Jim Ruvolo also are pictured.
	From left, Phil Park, Roland Hornbostel, Tim Burga and Jim Ruvolo participate in a panel discussion about prescription drug initiatives at the federal and state levels.
	From left, Karen Blickley, Elfi Di Bella, Tracey Wilson and Steve Knuth participate in a panel discussion about corporate fundraising.