O'Neill Center Announces Prescription Program Reaches $3M Milestone

O'Neill Center Announces Prescription Program Reaches $3M Milestone

By Terry Zdrale

The O'Neill Senior Center has announced that as of September 30, 2005 its Prescription Assistance for Seniors (PAS) program had acquired 12,596 prescriptions worth over $3 Million dollars for seniors enrolled in the program. Over 900 seniors have been assisted by the program which began in July 2002.

The Prescription Assistance for Seniors (PAS) program is funded primarily by the Washington County Senior Services Levy which passed in November 2001. For every 6 cents spent, the program returns over $0.94 worth of free medications to county seniors who have no prescription insurance and live on very limited incomes. The program has assisted senior citizens from every township in Washington County. The average age of a program participant is 73.5 years; the average income of participants in the program is $10,962 for a one person household, and $15,576 for a two person household.

The senior center’s prescription program is headed by Licensed Social Worker, Robin Collins. Collins and her staff helps seniors access the many patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. According to Collins, “Most of these free patient assistance programs require a significant amount of paperwork and coordination which overwhelms many older persons. Our staff acquires and completes the necessary applications, forwards them to the physician, and eventually to the pharmaceutical company. Senior center staff also tracks when refill applications are due and initiates that process.” 

Collins says, “This program has been a real blessing to so many people who, without this help, might otherwise be unable to purchase needed medications”. She also praised the many area physicians and their medical staff for their tremendous cooperation with paperwork and distributing medications. “This program is a true collaboration success story”, said Collins.

The O'Neill Senior Center is a private non-profit organization with a mission to help seniors be HIP (Healthy, Independent, and Productive). In addition to the prescription program, the O'Neill Senior Center offers, medical transportation, adult day services, Alzheimer’s respite care, homemaking/living assistance, and a wide variety of fitness and life enrichment programs. The Center, located at 333 Fourth Street in Marietta, is also home to the Senior Nutrition Program operated by the Washington /Morgan Community Action and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.