Less than 1% of eligible Arkansas residents pre-enroll in prescription drug discount program

Less than 1% of an estimated 400,000 Arkansas residents eligible for a state prescription drug discount program participated in the pre-enrollment period, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

Under the Arkansas Rx program, the state will negotiate discounted prices with drug manufacturers.

Individuals younger than age 65 and families who have annual incomes lower than 350% of the federal poverty level and who do not have prescription drug coverage are eligible for the program.

There are no income requirements for residents ages 65 and older.

The state Legislature allocated $2 million to develop and administer the program through the end of fiscal year 2007.

Each beneficiary will pay $25 annually to offset program costs.

According to the Democrat-Gazette, 2,200 eligible state residents enrolled during a "pre-enrollment" campaign that ran from Aug. 15, 2006, through Dec. 15, 2006.

The campaign was intended to gauge interest in the program because enrollment numbers will help determine the discounts the state will be able to obtain from drug manufacturers.

Julie Munsell, communications director of the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, said the department is concerned that the low number of residents who pre-enrolled will not give the state much leverage in negotiating discounts.

She said the state is considering joining with other states to form a larger pool with which to negotiate.

Arkansas plans to meet with drug manufacturers within the next 90 days to negotiate prices, according to Arkansas Medicaid Director Roy Jeffus.

The state health department hopes actual enrollment will begin sometime this year (Manthey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/3).