Any Ideas?

[oregon-rn]

I have a friend that is currently in assisted living. Due to budget cuts she will not be able to afford this anymore. She is having to go and live with her daughter, son-in-law and their 3 kids, in a 1300 square foot house. That's ok but! on top of it all shae will no longer receive assistance with her medications. They come to about $1000.00 per month. Insulin, cardiac, etc. Anyone have any ideas on how maybe I could get a pharmaceutical co. to donate at least the insulin? The doctor is dragging his feet and she only has until the last day of March.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

oregon-rn

[Diva]

Try this link:

http://www.dhs.state.or.us/healthplan/app_benefits/spdapinfo.html

It is the Oregon Senior Prescription Assistance Program.

Hope this helps.

-Diva

[sjoe]

Oregon has numerous social service agencies, private and public.

I'd check out the government pages in your phone book and start making calls, not simply about this narrow question of donating insulin, but about the multiple social support systems available in this case.

Does not this facility have a social work or social services department? The should be able to give you some useful leads.

[Brownms46]

HI oregon-rn,

I'm sorry to hear about your friend, but yes there are phamaceutical companies that she can get help from. I'm in Oregon right now, and we are assisting many, many pts to fill out forms to get assistance with their medications.

I don't have all the info here at home, but I will get it together at work tomorrow for you/her, and post tomorrow. If you wish you can PM me the meds she is on, and I will be glad to give you the names, and would be willing to fax the forms to her, if we have them.

In fact if you have access to a PDR, you can find the names and phone numbers of the meds she is on, and usually the numbers are 800 ones.

Some of the programs require that the meds be sent to the MD for the first several months. Such as Smith-Kline, and then the pt. can re-order them. Some prgrams gives the pt. a 90 supply at a time of free meds. And some have a co-pay of $10-15 dollars for the meds. If you're able and or willing, just give me a fax number and I will fax the info I can gather to you/her.

Our clinic does have an insulin rep, we have been dealing with to get free insulin, so I will try and find out about this also.

I think it's awful what is happening to those who are disabled, and elderly in this state! You're a good friend to be looking out for your friend!

[Katnip, RN]

The county should also have a social worker who can help guide her through all the red tape. Like sjoe says, there are all kinds of public and private agencies in every county in the country. The help is there, the trick is finding it. Also, does she have a religious affiliation? Some religious organizations also have funds and programs to help out.

[psychonurse]

Not to be Negative Nellie, but Oregon just had a cutback on all of it's home health and insurance benefits since Febuary. Many state emplyoees are losing thier jobs and the ones that are there are overworked. Good luck to you and hope that you get assistance before everything closes down in the medication line in Oregon. Hope that this also helps.