MAINE Rx PLUS
 Maine Rx Plus would offer some uninsured Mainers discounts on some prescription drugs - affecting about 275,000 people. Eligible Mainers will get discounts estimated at 15 percent to 60 percent on those drugs that are on the "preferred drug list" that the state is preparing for the Medicaid program. The state will cover the cost of the discounts, and the program will be expanded over time if the state can negotiate rebates with drug manufacturers.
Participating Pharmacies: List of pharmacies that will fill prescriptions as part of the plan
Recent stories from the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel about making prescription medication more affordable:
Senators spar over imported drugs' safety
The bill would allow wholesalers and pharmacists to import FDA-approved drugs. Today's Question: Do you think importing drugs is an effective way to reduce prescription prices?
[April 20, 2005]
Pharmacists fault Maine drug plan
The Maine Pharmacy Association and the Ontario Pharmacists' Association said drugs purchased from foreign sources pose safety risks.
[March 31, 2005]
Maine Rx Plus works to increase discounts
Officials talk with 20 drug companies about offering discounts of 5 percent to 10 percent more.
[November 26, 2004]
Cross-border drug sales halt urged by Canadians
TORONTO -- Canadians must stop Americans from using Internet pharmacies to raid its medicine chest or face a drug shortage, a coalition of Canadian groups representing seniors, pharmacies and patients has warned.
[October 20, 2004]
Doctor targets limits on prescriptions
Medicaid patients restricted to 5 drugs
[October 18, 2004]
Penobscots eager to get drug center
The proposed wholesale operation would provide needed jobs on the Indian Island reservation.
[October 2, 2004]
Drug costs dissected at health care symposium
There are risks to getting prescription drugs from Canada, speakers say.
[September 17, 2004]
Baldacci pitches plan for Canadian drugs
The proposal would be an economic boost for the Penobscot Nation, but it may face U.S. resistance.
[October 1, 2004]
Seniors, finding they save little, forgo drug cards
Some older Mainers say Canadian pharmacies offer the most reliable discounts.
[August 2, 2004]
For best drug discounts, uninsured Mainers must do homework
Pfizer's new assistance program is among several that offer help to more than 275,000 Mainers.
[July 13, 2004]
Richard C. Dillihunt: Prescription drug costs now a national scandal
New benefits yield little real help, but there are still some things people can do to cut their expenses.
[June 22, 2004]
Drug cards explained, defended
A Senate panel questionsa Medicare official about savings, pricing and educating the public.
[June 9, 2004]
Bart Jansen: Search for savings brings confusion
Maine's two discount-card programs - Maine Rx and Drugs for the Elderly - already offer steeper discounts than the Medicare prescription-drug benefit card.
[June 6, 2004]
Snowe, Collins split on drug imports
The two Maine senators back different bills aimed at opening the U.S. to foreign pharmacies.
[June 3, 2004]
Douglas R. Johnson: Drug imports will slow innovation
Americans shouldn't pay for all research, but the answer is to share the cost.
[May 17, 2004]
Drug card program met with confusion
Maine senior citizens say they have a hard time signing up, getting information on costs.
[May 5, 2004]
Court date for Maine Rx canceled
Arguments are put off after the judge removes himself from the case.
[April 13, 2004]
Head of FDA pressed to ease drug imports
Mark McClellan tells senators, including Olympia Snowe, that ensuring safety would be costly.
[March 12, 2004]
Drug-discount disclosures stifled
A judge rules Maine can't make pharmacy benefit managers reveal the deals they make with drug firms.
[March 11, 2004]
Wayne M. O'Leary
: Prescription for failure
The recent spate of White House-sponsored public-service announcements hailing the supposed benefits of newly enacted reforms, Medicare's days may be numbered.
[February 22, 2004]
Snowe co-sponsors bill to negotiate drug costs
Just months after providing key votes in a legislative overhaul of Medicare, Sens. Olympia Snowe and Ron Wyden are proposing changes to the system.
[February 7, 2004]
Jim Clair: Don't pile costs on druggists' backs
It costs $6.75 to fill a prescription, so cutting the fee to $2 really hurts.
[January 19, 2004]
Bart Jansen: Courts step aside, Maine Rx takes root
Nation watches as Maine's prescription-drug program begins.
[January 18, 2004]
Callers flooding Rx Plus help line
An estimated 275,000 people are eligible for the state's new discount drug plan.
[January 16, 2004]
Maine Rx Plus set to start
The discount-drug program, aimed at 275,000 Mainers, is available beginning Saturday.
[January 14, 2004]
Snowe: Ease limits on drug imports
But the FDA says it would not be able to make sure the medicine is safe.
[November 21, 2003]
Fred Kilfoil: Lawmakers: Leave slots alone
Racino backers had their shot, so don't change the rules for them now.
[January 5, 2004]
Racino inquiry reaches beyond Scott
The developer's associates come under similar scrutiny in hearings that resume Thursday.
[January 4, 2004]
State explores drug imports
Government leaders turn to Canada in their quest to lower prescription drug costs.
[November 16, 2003]
Bart Jansen: Drug debate rages as more head to Canada
How skeptical is America that Congress will provide a prescription-drug benefit within Medicare? Too impatient to wait any longer as congressional negotiations grind along after five years of debate.
[September 28, 2003]
Hawaiians research Maine Rx
The two state senators are hoping to apply in Hawaii lessons from Maine's implemention of a prescription drug plan.
[September 5, 2003]
Industry sues to stop new law on prescriptions
Pharmacy benefit managers don't want to reveal arrangements with prescription drug makers.
[September 4, 2003]
Prescription drug plan priorities outlined
Sen. Olympia Snowe and others will monitor Senate-House talks on a compromise to create the program.
[Portland Press Herald, August 1, 2003]
House OKs measure on drug imports
But the idea of letting Americans buy cheaper drugs from abroad faces a formidable Senate hurdle. Online poll: Should we be allowed to import less expensive drugs?
[Portland Press Herald, July 26, 2003]
Web site database offers cost-free medications
A prescription drug database targets elderly and low-income Mainers.
[Portland Press Herald, July 22, 2003]
Bart Jansen: Critics see ills in drug-benefit legislation
The only consensus emerging on whether Congress will add a prescription-drug benefit to medicare is that nobody like the direction in which it's headed.
[Maine Sunday Telegram, July 20, 2003]
Legislators clamor to hear about Maine's drug plan
Meeting in New Hampshire, lawmakers seemed eager to push such a plan in their own states.
[Portland Press Herald, June 28, 2003]
Maine Rx Plus now law
AUGUSTA — A revised MaineRx program that is being used as a national model for lowering prescription drug prices should be in place by January.
[Central Maine Newspapers, June 25, 2003]
Baldacci signs new drug bill to lower costs
The Maine Rx Plus program is expected to be operational by the end of the year and help 275,000 of the state's residents.
[Portland Press Herald, June 25, 2003]
Taking the lead
Even lawmakers who disagree with Gov. John Baldacci acknowledge that he has put his stamp on the 121st Legislature with a well-honed agenda.
[Maine Sunday Telegram, June 22, 2003]
Prescription-drug law promises price relief
Maine's plan to get price breaks for consumers could once again end up in court.
[Portland Press Herald, June 19, 2003]
Delegation differs over Medicare plan
Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe praise a Senate drug plan, but Rep. Tom Allen has concerns about the House version.
[Portland Press Herald, June 18, 2003]
State seeks Medicaid drug limits
Opponents say reducing access to more-expensive medicines could especially hurt mentally ill patients.
[Portland Press Herald, June 17, 2003]
Allen co-sponsors bill to study drug costs and effectiveness
The studies would try to cut spending by providing information outside of direct-to-consumer ads.
[Portland Press Herald, June 16, 2003]
House OKs changes to prescription plan
Those who qualify for Maine Rx-Plus would get discounts on certain prescription medications.
[Portland Press Herald, June 13, 2003]
Health-care bill close to passage in Legislature
The plan would provide insurance for thousands of Mainers and also seeks to control the cost of coverage.
[Portland Press Herald, June 13, 2003]
Baldacci OKs bills meant to lower drug prices
One forces disclosure of actual retail prices; a second requires pharmacists to dispense generic equivalents.
[Portland Press Herald, June 4, 2003]
Revised Maine Rx unveiled
State officials say Maine Rx Plus will offer bigger drug discounts and cost the state less
[Portland Press Herald, May 31, 2003]
Bill requires drug makers to disclose marketing expenses
The governor hasn't said if he would sign the bill, which requires drug firms to reveal what they spend on marketing.
[Portland Press Herald, May 29, 2003]
Seniors hope and wonder if Maine Rx can prevail
Seniors and advocacy groups see problems to overcome before the drug program can help them.
[Portland Press Herald, May 20, 2003]
Incremental start likely for Maine Rx
Gov. Baldacci says many details of the prescription benefit program must still be worked out.
[Portland Press Herald, May 20, 2003]
High court allows start of Maine Rx
The state can now begin negotiating big discounts on drug prices, but the program faces further tests.
[Portland Press Herald, May 20, 2003]
More news coverage
Columns and editorials published in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
EDITORIAL: Canadian drugs are safe, so what's the real issue?
The FDA cannot cite a single instance of someone dying or being injured because of a prescription filled in Canada.
[December 4, 2003]
Bart Jansen: Critics see ills in drug-benefit legislation
The only consensus emerging on whether Congress will add a prescription-drug benefit to medicare is that nobody like the direction in which it's headed.
[Maine Sunday Telegram, July 20, 2003]
EDITORIAL: Senate Medicare drug bill deserves support
Provided it doesn't threaten traditional Medicare, it's better than no benefit at all.
[Portland Press Herald, June 21, 2003]
Bart Jansen: Medicare overhaul fuels intense debates
Despite widespread support for providing prescription drugs through Medicare to the elderly and disabled, the current legislative proposals leave some queasiness about how much they will accomplish.
[Maine Sunday Telegram, June 15, 2003]
Bart Jansen: Medicare overhaul fuels intense debates
Despite widespread support for providing prescription drugs through Medicare to the elderly and disabled, the current legislative proposals leave some queasiness about how much they will accomplish.
[Maine Sunday Telegram, June 15, 2003]
Mandy Grunwald: No easy fix for aid with prescription drugs
Ordering drug companies to charge less is only going to result in fewer new drugs.
[Portland Press Herald, June 10, 2003]
More columns and editorials
Maine Rx: Some answers to questions about the plan to lower the cost of prescription medication in Maine.
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