Correspondent
rwilliams@windstream.net
“I've always worked all my life,” the heart patient said Tuesday, “and I've never had to ask for this kind of help before. It's hard to do.”
The man and his wife are at St. Joseph's Parish Hall to apply for free or discounted medications offered by drug companies through Community Alliance's Prescriptions Program.
Sister Audrey Recktenwald, who heads up the program, said it has managed to save more than $67,400 in the first five months of this year, “and it has saved county patients over $1 million since the program started in 2003.”
The help is needed.
The heart patient says he is trying to buy $1,500 meds a month since his seven bypass operations and four stints. His wife's meds include pills for depression and anxiety, brought on partially, she thinks, from their constant worry about where the money's coming from.
“I've lost my job and my insurance,” the heart patient continued, “and it's not likely I'm going to find another one.”
His wife says she has been working on a disability application for three years, “and I'll find out in about a month if it will be approved or not.”
If it isn't, the depression and the anxiety attacks will likely increase, leading to additional medical problems on top of those she already has.
The first person people coming to the program meet is volunteer Glenda Preston of Caneyville, who, when she's not volunteering can whip up an apricot cake that wins blue ribbons and passes all taste tests.
“This is a great service for so many people,” she said. “And I know there are more out there who need the help, but don't know about us.”
Preston said the program is serving 208 people now, roughly half the people they were serving before Medicare Part D kicked in.
“We just try fit the needs of patients for medications with their income,” she said, “and sometimes the two don't meet, but we can, at least, give them some relief, especially when it's a choice between groceries and medicine.”
“We get people in here who are supposed to be taking meds three times a day,” she continued, “but they're taking them every other day so they can buy food.”
The procedure is negotiating a few stations at the hall. There are 20 volunteers, and four or five of them show up for the Tuesday sessions.
A list of meds is filled out. The company making each is noted, then those companies are contacted to see if they offer a cut rate for those who need a budget break.
If they do have such programs, the local volunteers get whatever information the company requires for discounts.
It can take some time, and that's a little frustrating for one young couple. The wife has to be at work at 11 a.m., and it's already nearly 10. She needs help with check-ups and medication after surgery.
Her husband, who takes four pain pills a day, sometimes more, after an automobile accident left him limping and in constant pain.
“I was in the hospital for three months,” he said, “and in a coma for a lot of that time. I had to learn to walk again, learn to talk again, and my meds run about $650 a month.”
The former rodeo rider said he won't be doing that ever again, “but the problem now is that the job I had in another county can't be transferred to the same company in this county.”
“So, I'm without insurance of any kind,” he said, “and probably won't find anybody who'll hire me nor insure me.”
The rodeo star says they are lucky to have a family farmhouse that's paid for, “so we have a roof over our heads.”
Another woman listens to the heart patient and the rodeo star and nods.
“I need $600 a month to pay for my pills,” she said, “so you just have to stretch every dollar and do without a lot of things.”
“What hurts is that I have grandchildren,” she said, “and I can't do the things for them that I really want to, and they don't understand why. It hurts.”
“You have to look for the cheapest groceries you can find, and gas has gone through the roof, so you have to be careful how far you drive.”
The heart patient says that between him and his wife, they take 23 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.
“It hurts to ask for this help,” he said, “but you have to do it to live, I guess.”
(For more information on the prescription drug program, call 259-4MED (4633). Information on other programs are at Grayson County Community Alliance at 259-4000 or at www.thegcca.com.
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