AARP says drug costs a hardship in Hawai'i

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

The high cost of prescription medicine is forcing many Hawai'i residents to cut back on food or utility expenses, or to put off buying their medicine, according to a survey released yesterday by AARP.

Gilbert and Ruby Silva, retirees in Wai'anae Valley, are among the estimated 300,000 Hawai'i residents who do not have prescription drug coverage.

"Our medications run about $600 a month," said Ruby Silva, 72. Her 73-year-old husband, Gilbert, has congestive heart failure, had a stroke and takes medication for a variety of chronic illnesses.

Silva counts herself fortunate that they own their own house and are able to maintain their family finances by cutting corners.

"It is a burden and it is hard, but I think of people who are worse off," she said. "We're current on our bills, so I feel very blessed."

The AARP commissioned a survey of 1,002 Hawai'i adults in September and October. Of that group, 452 said they take prescription drugs on a regular basis.

Highlights of the survey include:

• Eighteen percent of the regular medicine users said they have a "major problem" paying for their prescription drugs. Another 33 percent said they have a "minor problem."
• Thirty-two percent of the regular medicine users said they have made a cost-cutting move in response to the high cost of drugs.

Those steps include putting off filling a prescription (17 percent), cutting back on food or utilities (14 percent), decreasing their dosage (11 percent) or ordering via mail or the Internet (10 percent). Totals exceed 32 percent because some people used a combination of measures.

• Fifty-two percent of all respondents said they were "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about their ability to afford prescription drugs in the next two years. Looking at respondents 50 and older, that figure jumps to 61 percent.
• Twenty-seven percent of the regular medicine users spent $100 or more out of their own pocket on prescription drugs in the past 90 days.

AARP Hawaii lobbied successfully for a state-financed prescription program called Hawaii Rx, which is scheduled to take effect July 1. The Hawai'i Rx program aims to reduce costs by creating a state purchasing pool that would get prescription medicine at lower prices and pass the savings on to consumers.

AARP state director Greg Marchildon said the program could use some refining before it goes into effect. For example, supporters would restrict the program to people who earn, at most, 3 1/2 times the federal poverty level. In Hawai'i that would be $74,500 for a family of four or $36,000 for a single person.

Marchildon said the organization is happy that Gov. Linda Lingle has indicated she is now willing to support such a program, which her administration earlier had opposed.

The AARP hired Mattson Sunderland Research and Planning Associates to conduct the telephone survey. Responses were weighted to match the distribution by age and county according to 2000 U.S. Census data. The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percent.

AARP Hawai'i is sponsoring a series of forums across the state on ways to reduce the rising costs of prescription drugs. Lawmakers have been invited to participate.

Maui meetings will take place in February and March. Meetings on O'ahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island are scheduled in March; and Moloka'i's events are set for April. For more information or to register, call (877) 926-8300 or e-mail hiaarp@aarp.org.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.