May 23, 2013
The Alabama Department of Senior Services has set up a program that helps the elderly apply for free medication from drug companies.
The process is confusing and can take hours because some seniors have more than a dozen prescriptions and each requires a separate application.
State lawmakers set aside $1.5 million to fund the new program.
But three workers with the Southern Area Regional Council on Aging have already handled more than 2500 applicants in just the first few weeks.
So county and city governments are trying to come up with extra money for additional workers to help the elderly.
Council on aging director Robert Crowder estimates it will cost about $200,000 to hire enough workers to keep the prescription drug program going in the Wiregrass area.
