A statewide program takes unused and discontinued prescription drugs and medical products, hoping to give patients what they need without the expense. Although this may pose a threat to the already growing opioid problem in America, the program hopes to help those who actually need pain medications.
One yellow bag at Omro Pharmacy contains two bottles of medication utilized by cancer clients. Each bottle costs $8,000, but Omro Pharmacy is giving both bottles to a client in need free of charge.
” We’re legally authorized by the State of Wisconsin to accept drugs that are no longer being used by other people with these chronic health problems,” said Ken Bressers, owner of Omro Pharmacy. “We hold them in a separate inventory area to be used by clients who require them and maybe might not otherwise afford them.”
The initial step for donors is completing a Drug Repository Program Donation Kind on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services site. It requests for details about the prescription drug being contributed consisting of name, strength, and quantity.
Contributed drugs must have an expiration date at least 90 days far from the time of donation and need to be in the initial product packaging.
” Somebody else has actually been in that bottle, and I do not understand that many pharmacists or physicians would desire their clients utilizing something where there was doubtful or unverifiable pedigree on it,” said Bressers. “Where was it? How was it saved? Who had it?”
Anybody in Wisconsin is qualified to receive donated drugs from in the Drug Repository Program.
Wisconsin isn’t the only state that has programs set up to help according to National Conference of State Legislators, Iowa created its program in 2007 and has served 71,000 patients and redistributed $17.7 million in free medication and supplies donated to people in need. Wyoming’s Medication Donation Program was created in 2005 and has helped Wyoming residents fill over 150,000 prescriptions, adding up to over $12.5 million.
” First in line are the uninsured people with absolutely no insurance and would need to pay the whole amount out-of-pocket,” said Bressers. “The second, naturally, are individuals who are currently on Wisconsin Medicaid or on Medicare programs to assist in saving the taxpayers some cash.” The main reason people do not seek treatment or medication in America is lack of health insurance and inability to afford the cost of treatment.
Having treatment options available at an affordable cost makes the road to recovery less of a burden for you and your family. Clients with chronic disease are encouraged to talk to their doctor about the Drug Repository Program and to discover cost-effective medication in their location.
By: Mckenzie Santa Maria
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