Changes to the provincial Drug Cost Assistance Plan were announced today to make filling prescriptions more convenient and less costly for Island seniors.
Premier Pat Binns announced today that action is underway to extend the supply limits of all eligible seniors medications from a one-month supply to a three-month supply, effective January 1, 1998.
"What this will mean to Island seniors is that they can have their prescriptions filled every three months, rather than every month. They will make one trip to the drug store and pay one prescription fee, rather than three. Additionally, they will not have to make unnecessary visits to their doctor to have prescriptions renewed," said the Premier.
Presently, most medications covered under the provincial Drug Cost Assistance Program are limited to a 30-day supply, and the senior is required to pay on average, a fee of $14.85 to have each prescription filled under the Plan.
Premier Binns advised that the changes are a result of Government's earlier commitment to Island seniors. "Seniors have consistently indicated that this change is a major priority for them. For many seniors, having medications filled every month is costly and sometimes prohibitive. The problem is compounded by the difficulty many seniors very often experience with transportation to the pharmacy and their doctor's office."
Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover indicated that a provincial Pharmacy committee has almost completed its review of the present list of three-month supply medications with the intent of expanding the number of available medications used to treat chronic conditions such as cardiac and high blood pressure medications, effective January 1, 1998.
Minister Dover advised that while the exact cost of the policy change will not be determined until the committee has completed its work, she said, "The benefits this change will have for our seniors will significantly outweigh any increased cost to Government."
Medications that would not be considered for a three-month supply will include those meant for short-term use, such as antibiotics; medications with a high incidence of serious side effects, such as arthritis medications which may cause bleeding; and medications subject to misuse, such as narcotics, sedatives, tranquillizers, and sleep medications.
The provincial Drug Cost Assistance Plan (DCAP) is a provincial government program to assist PEI residents who are 65 years of age or older, with the purchase of approved drug benefits.
For more information contact: Jean Doherty, Health and Social Services at 902-368-6257