Gov. Ritter Signs First Bill, Creates Prescription Drug Plan
GOV. RITTER SIGNS FIRST BILL, CREATES PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN
Signing his first bill, Gov. Bill Ritter today created the Colorado Cares Rx Program, which will provide up to 264,000 eligible residents with access to discounted medications.
"Throughout the campaign, I made it clear that one of my top priorities was to address health-care challenges around cost, quality and access," Ritter said. "I pledged not only to seek long-term solutions to a health-care crisis that has 17 percent of our population without insurance, but also to take immediate action to lower costs.
"We took a step last week when I signed my first executive order and established a Preferred Drug List. We take another big step today by signing Senate Bill 1 and creating the Colorado Cares Rx Program."
Ritter applauded the bill's sponsors, Sen. Bob Hagedorn and Rep. Alice Madden, for recognizing the importance of reducing health-care costs for Coloradans.
Colorado Cares Rx will allow the state to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers of generic medications. Pharmacies can then voluntarily sign up to participate in the program and sell the medications to Coloradans who enroll in the program.
Coloradans who are uninsured but do not qualify for Medicaid, Children's Basic Health Plan or other state aid, and whose family income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level, will be eligible to participate.
Up to 10,000 types of prescription drugs could become available at discounted prices through the program and provide savings of up to 80 percent to eligible participants. The program will begin accepting applications early next year. Participants will pay a one-time $20 registration fee.
"We all know people who at one time or another have delayed filling a prescription, taken less medication than the doctor prescribed or didn't fill a prescription at all because of cost," Ritter said. "Today, we make the cost of prescription medications for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans more affordable."
http://www.colorado.gov/governor/press/february07/drug-plan.html