State Pharmacy Assistance Programs
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs - are state-funded programs that provide low-income and medically needy senior citizens and individuals with disabilities financial assistance for prescription drugs. As noted by Medicare:"The law allows State Pharmacy Assistance Programs to "wrap around" the Medicare benefit to fill gaps in coverage. As a result, State Pharmacy Assistance Programs will be able to provide the same or better coverage for the beneficiaries who receive coverage through state programs now, at a lower cost per beneficiary for the states because of the availability of the Medicare drug benefit."
A number of states are offering various programs that may help with monthly Medicare Part D plan premiums or even medication copayments, which will ultimately be considered as a portion of the TrOOP or True out of Pocket expenses that you pay.
Qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs Under the MMA*
*Note: This list is based on qualified SPAP attestation forms received by CMS as of April 15, 2008. Please note that several states have more than one SPAP.
Click on the state or program name below for program details
| State or Territory | Program Name |
| Colorado | :: Colorado Bridging the Gap |
| Connecticut | :: Connecticut Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract to the Elderly and Disabled Program (PACE) |
| Delaware | :: Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (PDAP) :: Delaware Chronic Renal Disease Program |
| Florida | :: Florida Comprehensive Health Association (High Risk Pool) |
| Idaho | :: Idaho AIDS Drug Assistance Program (IDAGAP) |
| Illinois | Illinois Cares Rx |
| Indiana | :: Hoosier Rx |
| Maine | :: Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program |
| Maryland | :: Maryland Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program :: Maryland Kidney Disease Program :: Primary Adult Care Program (PAC) |
| Massachusetts | :: Prescription Advantage |
| Missouri | :: Missouri Rx Plan |
| Montana | :: Big Sky Rx Program
:: Montana Mental Health Services Plan (MHSP) |
| Nevada | :: Disability Rx Program :: Senior Rx Program |
| New Jersey | :: Prescription Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program (PAAD) :: New Jersey Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program :: New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services |
| New York | :: Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) |
| North Carolina | :: North Carolina HIV SPAP |
| Pennsylvania | :: Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) :: PACE Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET) :: Pennsylvania Chronic Renal Disease Program and General Assistance Program :: Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program - HIV/AIDS & Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program - Mental Health |
| Rhode Island | :: Rhode Island Prescription Assistance for the Elderly (RIPAE) |
| South Carolina | :: Gap Assistance Program for Seniors (GAPS) |
| Texas | :: Kidney Health Care Program :: HIV SPAP |
| US Virgin Islands | :: Senior Citizens Affairs Pharmaceutical Assistance Program |
| Vermont | :: VPharm, Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP-Pharmacy), VSCRIPT Expanded and Vermont VPHARM |
| Virginia | :: Virginia HIV SPAP |
| Washington | :: Washington State Health Insurance Pharmacy Assistance Program |
| Wisconsin | :: Cystic Fibrosis Program :: Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP) :: Hemophilia Home Care :: SeniorCare |