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