More and more residents in New Jersey are going without medical insurance. This is especially true for working-class, urban areas. In Hudson County, residents from relatively impoverished Latin American countries with little understanding of the language sometimes hold jobs that don’t offer health benefits.
“There are more than 340,000 Hispanic New Jersey residents who do not have health insurance,” said Rep. Robert Menendez last week. “Each day, these people work hard to provide for their families and contribute to their communities.”
Sometimes, these residents require prescription drugs to treat serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, but never buy their medication because they would have to choose between their health or feeding their families. As a result, these illnesses are becoming wide spread among the Latin community, and individuals go to clinics instead of preventing problems.
“Rx4NJ” is a no-cost, confidential service that links low-income residents with patient assistance programs (PAP) that provide free or nearly free prescription drugs. Some of the PAPs participating in Rx4NJ are the American Cancer Society/Eastern Division, the March of Dimes, and the New Jersey Primary Care Association. Rx4NJ is the first patient assistance program that specifically targets New Jersey residents, and is accessible to them through a toll free telephone number and website. It’s a one-stop bilingual clearinghouse for more than 300 public and private PAPs providing access to more than 1,800 critical medicines.
Last month, Rx4NJ launched their statewide campaign announcing their partnership for low-income residents of New Jersey. And this past Monday, the North Hudson Community Action Corporation in West New York helped them announce their campaign to get the word out among Latinos.
Among guest speakers for the event were Rep. Robert Menendez, West New York Mayor and Assemblyman Albio Sires, and a panel of representatives from the programs participating in Rx4NJ.
“[The Spanish advertising campaign] was a whole group effort that started about a month ago,” said Sires. “We talked about the idea, and they asked if we could do it in West New York, and I said I have the perfect place.”
“Our goal is simple, but compelling. We are using every possible resource to educate and engage every NJ resident about the benefits of Rx4NJ,” said Robert Franks, president of the Health Care Institute of NJ and member of Rx4NJ. “In addition to reaching out to members of the medical community, we are spreading the message to every corner of the Garden State.”
A growing concern
On Monday, Menendez said, “Now that help is potentially only a phone call away, we have an obligation to reach out to the Hispanics in our communities so that they know this assistance is available through this important service.”
Mariam Merced, MA, director of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Community Health promotion program, was among the guest speakers for the event at NHCAC.
Merced stated that unfortunately, a growing number of uninsured patients forgo the proper care and medications require because it is simply too expensive.
“In many cases, patients are unprepared for the costs associated with managing their illness,” said Merced. “Rx4NJ was created to change that, and make access to prescription drugs easier and more affordable for those who qualify.”
According to the latest health insurance figures from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, more than 32 percent of New Jersey’s Hispanic population under 65 years of age is uninsured, which is approximately 343,370 people.
The program
Simply by calling in or logging onto the Web site, residents will have access to hundreds of prescription drugs. The prescriptions are generally provided free or at a reasonable low cost to patients who do not have medication coverage, or are completely uninsured and can’t afford the out-of-pocket expense.
After calling or signing onto the site, residents will be prompted to answer 10 simple questions including age, state of residence, estimated gross annual income, their prescription brands, and type of health insurance/prescription coverage if applicable.
This will determine a patient’s eligibility for more than 300 PAPs. They will then be able to fill out the appropriate enrollment forms over the phone or online for the Rx4NJ program. If a patient prefers, he or she may also mail out the form to the specific program for which he or she qualifies.
The Spanish language campaign will kick off around the state of New Jersey through TV and radio broadcasts to billboard and bus advertisements. Regular announcements and press coverage will also be utilized to get the word out.
“I’m hoping that people learn about the program, and how to get access to these prescription drugs that are already available to people who speak English,” said Sires. “Sometimes the biggest obstacle is communication, and this will break down that barrier.”
Looking to the future
Since its inception, more than 21,000 residents have logged on or called into the program, and the hope for the new campaign is to continue that success among the urban Hispanic community.
“Today I want to salute this industry for this initiative,” said Menendez. “We often lose sight and only see the successful aspects [of a program]. We never see the process, but there are industries that spend enormous amounts of resources on prescription drugs that extend, enhance and improve our quality of life. However, this mean absolutely nothing if you can’t have access to it.”
The Rx4NJ is a partnership for prescription assistance includes a board coalition of health care groups, patient advocacy organizations, and pharmaceuticals and medical technology companies.
One not there
Sadly, one of Hudson County’s biggest advocates for resident health care and quality of life, Michael Leggiero, who was the president of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, died the Saturday prior to the event, which he supported and helped plan. However, all his former colleagues and friends all agreed that he would have wanted the event to continue as planned.
“I stand here with a heavy heart,” said Sires. “Michael was always looking out for the needs of the center. Maybe the board will think about renaming the building in the name of Michael Leggiero. That would be my recommendation.”
For more information about the program or to inquire about eligibility, call 1-888-RX-FOR-NJ or visit www.Rx4NJ.org.