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"The people of this state deserve
access to safe and affordable prescription drugs," Gov. Blagojevich
said. "Our seniors should not have to choose between paying their
utilities bills and paying for the medicines their doctors say they
need. We created I-SaveRx so seniors wouldn't have to make that
real-life choice. I appreciate all of the help we've received in
this effort from the AARP. AARP has long been a vocal advocate at
both the state and national levels for legislation allowing the
importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries."
The Illinois AARP strongly supports
the governor's I-SaveRx program -- the first program in the nation
that allows citizens to purchase lower-cost, safe prescription drugs
from Europe and Canada. In fact, representatives from the
1.6-million-member Illinois AARP stood with the governor when he
launched I-SaveRx, to show the organization's support for the
program.
The AARP also recognized Gov.
Blagojevich for signing
Senate Bill 2880, transforming Illinois' long-term care system
by restructuring services to include
home-based care as well as institutional care. Sponsored by Sen.
Iris Y. Martinez, D-Chicago, and Rep. Julie Hamos, D-Evanston, the
law restructures all aspects of service, including housing, health,
financial and supportive services for older people. It also includes
the development of a Nursing Home Conversion Program to be
established by the state departments of Public Health and Public
Aid.
The program is intended to reduce
reliance on nursing homes by Medicaid, the federal-state program
that pays the health care costs for the poor. Savings from this
effort will be reallocated to a broader array of options for
home-based or community-based services to older adults.
"Governor Blagojevich showed vision
and leadership by signing SB 2880 into law and by fighting to bring
reasonably priced prescription medications to our senior
population," said Donna Ginther of AARP Illinois. "While the state's
fiscal constraints continue to present a challenge to completing
this program, it is most appropriate to recognize his role in these
vital first steps."
Senate
Bill 2880 requires the Department on Aging to begin the restructure
no later than Jan. 1, 2005, and to give priority to the expansion
and development of new services in areas identified with the
greatest need. Restructure, according to the new law, includes:
- The expansion of services to
older adults and their family caregivers, subject to availability
of funds.
- Development of rules to implement
the law and an annual report of progress as well as collaboration
between the state departments of Aging, Public Health and Public
Aid and others to implement the act.
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"Senate Bill 2880 responds to the
strong desire of many senior citizens to remain in their homes and
in their communities," the governor said. "It respects the will of a
very independent generation. This law and our I-SaveRx program that
helps seniors save money on their necessary prescriptions will
hopefully allow seniors stay in their homes longer, near their
friends and their families."
Participants in the I-SaveRx plan
can save an average of 25 percent to 50 percent on the cost of the
most common medications used to treat chronic conditions. I-SaveRx
is the first program in the nation to establish a network of
pharmacies including facilities across the Atlantic. The program has
extensive safeguards built in and includes thorough oversight of
network pharmacies.
To enroll in the plan, an individual
must mail or fax a completed health profile form and signed
prescription to the I-SaveRx clearinghouse. Once the clearinghouse
has received the prescription and health profile form, it will
conduct an initial scan for appropriateness, using the same drug
interaction software used in Illinois pharmacies. If the
prescription passes the interaction test, it will then be turned
over to a network physician in the country from which the medication
will be dispensed. The physician will review and rewrite the
prescription for a network pharmacy, and the pharmacy will perform a
final safety check to comply with local laws and regulations before
dispensing the medication.
Only prescription refills are
eligible for the program so patients and their doctors have had time
to review for unanticipated side effects or interactions. The list
of available drugs is limited to those that cannot spoil during the
shipping process and have been approved by the FDA for use in the
United States to treat chronic or long-term conditions.
For more information, go to
I-SaveRx.net or call 1 (866)
I-SAVE33 [1 (866) 472-8333].
[News release from the
governor's office]
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