PRESCRIPTION DRUG REFORM—OSPIRG’s Maureen Kirk talks with Gov. Ted Kulongoski about the Oregon Prescription Drug Program. Photo credit: Thomas Oliver

The Oregon prescription drug bulk purchasing program has been officially launched and citizens are already participating in promising numbers. An OSPIRG-supported law created the program, known officially as the Oregon Prescription Drug Program.

Because of the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, and the troubling and increasing number of Oregonians without prescription drug coverage through health insurance, OSPIRG worked with a broad coalition of labor, senior citizen, health and consumer organizations to pass Senate Bill 875 in 2003.

The program pools purchasing power and allows the state to negotiate cheaper drugs for Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens.

The state predicts that discounts from the program will vary depending on whether a drug is generic or brand name. The greatest discounts are on generics and can be as high as 60 percent. The average discount is more than 30 percent.

Already A Success

The program is already showing signs of success. In March, Gov. Ted Kulongoski reported that more than 1,300 Oregonians had signed up to receive the discount cards.  

According to the governor’s press release, “The Oregon Prescription Drug Program makes prescription drugs available at the lowest possible cost to participants in the program; reimburses pharmacies for prescription drugs in order to receive discounted prices and rebates; and maintains a list of prescription drugs recommended as the most effective prescription drugs available at the best possible prices.”

Many Oregon consumers may be eligible for the program. To enroll, citizens must:

• be a minimum of 54 years of age;

• have a household income of less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level ($17,705 per year for an individual; $23,736 for a couple);

• and be uninsured, having gone at least six months without private prescription drug insurance.

Applications for enrollment are available at www.opdp.org or by calling AARP at 1-866-554-5360.

The Next Step: Expansion

Now OSPIRG’s consumer program to reduce prescription drug costs is focused on two fronts. The first is to expand the state’s program to include all Oregonians regardless of income or age. The second is to promote and watchdog the existing program as it gets off the ground.

“OSPIRG will help spread the word about this program so that it continues to be successful,” says OSPIRG Director Maureen Kirk. “We’re urging eligible Oregonians to enroll and add to the purchasing power of the program. Obviously they’ll also directly benefit from the lower drug costs.”

Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced support for the expansion of the prescription drug purchasing pool for Oregonians.

OSPIRG’s Maureen Kirk joined AARP, Oregonians for Health Security, Oregon Action and many citizens at a local pharmacy to applaud the governor for making the reduction of prescription drug prices a priority.

“One of my guiding principles for Oregon’s future is to meet the basic health, food and shelter needs of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Gov. Kulongoski. “Too many Oregonians have to choose between these three basic needs, which is simply unacceptable.”

Progress In Legislature

Sen. Bill Morrisette and Rep. Mitch Greenlick sponsored legislation this year to expand the program to cover more Oregonians. The legislation garnered strong support from health, labor, senior and consumer groups.

On May 20, the state Senate passed SB 329, which would remove the age and income restrictions of the state’s prescription drug program.  Disappointingly, the House failed to pass the bill.

“By passing SB 329 the Senate took a stand against the skyrocketing prices the pharmaceutical industry is charging Oregon consumers,” said OSPIRG Staff Attorney Shannon Callahan.