Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
e 3 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> AMENDED RESOLUTION ENDORSING <br /> A STATEWIDE PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM <br /> FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES <br /> WHEREAS, low income older adults comprise approximately one-fourth of the North <br /> Carolina elderly population; and <br /> WHEREAS, there is nearly 300,000 North Carolinians, many elderly, as well as persons with <br /> disabilities, designated as"poor" and receive no assistance with the purchase of <br /> prescription medications; <br /> WHEREAS, nationally,North Carolina has the ninth highest poverty rate for people age 65 <br /> and older; and <br /> WHEREAS, Medicare, available to all citizens over 65 and persons with disabilities, provides <br /> no assistance for the purchase of retail medications; and <br /> WHEREAS, older adults represent 12% of the U.S. population, but consume 34% of all <br /> prescription drugs; and by the year 2000, older adults are estimated to consume <br /> close to 50%of all prescribed drugs; and <br /> WHEREAS, a high percentage of elderly hospital admissions are due to medication misuse; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, in recent years,prescription drug prices have risen at a rate three to five times that <br /> of inflation,making it difficult for low-income elderly to follow the doctor's <br /> orders; and <br /> WHEREAS, low income older adults and persons with disabilities who do not qualify for <br /> Medicaid can not get assistance with the purchase of prescription drugs in North <br /> Carolina like ten other states. <br /> NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does <br /> hereby endorse the need for a statewide pharmaceutical assistance program for senior adults age 60+, <br /> and persons with disabilities, who fall within a defined income/expense range and who do not <br /> qualify for Medicaid; and <br />