By Phil Kabler, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Apr. 20--Rx for West Virginia, a pharmaceutical industry-sponsored Web site and call center intended to help residents determine whether they qualify for free or discount drug programs, went online Monday.
Drug industry lobbyists first proposed the clearinghouse during the legislative session as an alternative to the House of Delegates version of the Pharmaceutical Affordability and Availability Act, which would have linked prices for prescription drugs in the state to the deeply discounted Federal Supply Schedule.
Proponents of that option contend it could have cut state prescription drug costs by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Ultimately, the Legislature adopted a hybrid of the two proposals, with legislation that calls for the immediate implementation of the call center, and establishes an 11-member council mandated to come up with recommendations for more sweeping cost-control measures by this fall.
As unveiled Monday by Christian Clymer, with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America -- the major national drug industry lobby -- the Web site and call center will make it easier for state residents to determine if they qualify for a wide variety of free or discount drug programs offered by drug manufacturers.
Delegate Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, one of the authors of the Pharmaceutical Affordability Act, said at first glance, Rx for West Virginia doesn't seem any different from a number of other Web sites available to help patients determine their eligibility for free or discounted prescription drugs.
Dr. Bob Walker, chairman of family medicine at the Marshall University School of Medicine, appeared at the news conference, but stressed that he was not representing Marshall, or the Lincoln Primary Care Center, nor that he was whole-heartedly endorsing the clearinghouse.
'I'm sure this is an attempt for this industry to try to cast itself in a favorable light,' he said. 'We also have to realize they are talking about discounting and giving away medication.'
Walker added, 'I want what's best for my patients, regardless of whether it's through politics, threats or innuendo.'
He said the Lincoln clinic has two full-time employees who assist patients in determining their eligibility for free or discount drug programs.
He believes many West Virginians, particularly older residents, are unaware the programs exist, and many lack access to the Internet needed to apply for the discounts.
Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, attended a kickoff for the clearinghouse Monday. House Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, was unable to attend because of a scheduling mix-up.
Kiss said later his absence should not be construed as a lack of support for the program.
He said the House-Senate compromise reached late in the regular session hinged on giving the drug companies a year to show if the clearinghouse could produce real savings for state residents. Kiss said a legislative interim committee and the Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council both will closely monitor the results of the Web site and call center.
'It's a matter of watching and monitoring,' he said.
Kiss said he and Tomblin have taped a public service ad promoting Rx for West Virginia, saying it would have been disingenuous to agree to the clearinghouse concept in March and then not support it publicly.
'If you don't try to make it succeed, you open yourself to criticism,' Kiss said.
Residents can visit the Web site at www.RxforWV.org, or may phone the call center at (877) 982-7948.
Clymer said the call center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. He said he did not know how many people are employed at the call center or where it is located.
Wanda Moebius, PhRMA spokeswoman, said the call center is located in Iowa, and also takes calls for Rx for Ohio, a similar industry-sponsored clearinghouse.
'We wanted the most experienced operators,' she said, noting that operators at the call center need to have some basic understanding of various types of drugs to handle the inquiries more quickly.
In a related matter, Gov. Bob Wise announced the appointments of the five citizen members to the Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council.
They are: Charles Burdette of Fruth Pharmacy; Heather Bresch, vice president of government and public relations for Mylan Laboratories; Steve Neal, with the Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley: Kevin Outterson, associate professor at the West Virginia University College of Law; and Dr. Wayne Spiggle.
The council is scheduled to meet for the first time today.
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(c) 2004, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
