The new Senior Prescription Assistance Program which joins drug company suppliers and consumers over 60 is off to a strong start. The program offers free or discounted drugs to eligible consumers.

Jeff Cothran, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County United Way, said that in the first two weeks of operations, there have been 13 consumers interviewed and some have already received their free or discounted drugs.

The program is administered by HealthLink, a partnership of United Way and Vaughan Community Health Services which is fully funding start-up operations. United Way is providing in-kind services such as office space in its quarters on Vaughan Memorial Drive.

Cothran said, “The start-up has gone remarkably smoothly. The one thing we worried about was being inundated with consumers at the very beginning before we were ready. But that has not been a problem. We’ve had a steady flow and we are ramping up the program

at just the right speed. We are providing very high quality service and that is our goal.

“The intake interview, during which we get the necessary information to do the search on the software connected to all participating drug companies, takes 20-30 minutes. The research, however, on what’s available – especially when a patient has a number of prescriptions – may take several hours. We’re generally open for appointments 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through

Friday. We complete all the paperwork and take it to the doctor’s office to be signed and sent into the drug companies.

“We’re fortunate to have two excellent intake workers – Jo Ann Bowline, former director of Sabra Sanctuary, and Carol Henry who worked for many years at the Department of Human Resources,” he said.

Cothran said, “We will expand the program as rapidly as our funding permits. We are so grateful to Vaughan Community Health Services for fully funding our cash start-up needs. Without

Vaughan health service’s support we could not do this project. No United Way donations are being used in support of this program. We are continuing to seek other sources of funding. We’re proud to offer this prescription service for free.”

Cothran added, “We are excited about the possibility of extending other community health services through HealthLink, such as various kinds of screenings offered at the time when people are having their intake interviews.”

Guidelines for the Senior Prescription Assistance Program include the requirement that applicants be 60 or over, referral by a physician – all of whom have forms, and bringing the prescription or prescriptions to the interview.

All interviews must be scheduled in advance.

For appointments call (334) 418-8800