Poll Area

Mayor Hawkins Launches Low Cost Prescription Drug Plan for the Uninsured

The City of Orange Township under the leadership of Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. has partnered with the Heinz Family Foundation to create new patient assistance programs and discount prescriptions to uninsured Orange residents. Orange is the fourth city in America to be chosen to participate in the discount program.
 
They will launch the new programs at Orange Health and Wellness Day ceremonies to be held Wednesday, November 3rd from 9:30am to 12:30pm at City Hall, 29 North Day Street. Residents who attend will have the opportunity to learn about the new public health initiative. In addition to Mayor Hawkins, Jeffrey Lewis, President of the Heinz Family Philanthropies, Edward Belkin of PhRMA, Krista Zuccheri, Associate Director for Family Connection and elected officials will speak at the Health and Wellness Day event.
 
Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.:

“We created the Orange Health and Wellness Alliance in 2008 to develop public/private partnerships to provide health care, health education, and preventive health services for Orange residents. Our first project was a collaboration with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Healthcare system to provide preventative health care and primary medical care in senior citizen housing at 340 Thomas Boulevard, 300 Oakwood Avenue and 400 Oakwood Avenue.
 
I am pleased that the Heinz Foundation recognized Orange’s leadership in health partnerships by saying yes when I asked them to join me in creating the innovative prescription drug plan for uninsured Orange residents. The Heinz Family Philanthropies honor the memory, the initiative, and the inspiration of the late Pennsylvania Senator John Heinz. They are fueled by the vision of Teresa Heinz for solving some of the nation's most difficult domestic policy issues, and I am proud to welcome them to Orange.”

Statement by Jeffrey Lewis President of the Heinz Family Philanthropies:

“We are honored to work with Mayor Hawkins to create an affordable prescription drug solution for the community.  This will allow people to save money and access affordable and need medications.” -

The Program

OrangeRx: The OrangeRx patient assistance program connects residents with a year of free brand-name prescription medications. To qualify, patients must not have prescription insurance coverage. They must also meet income guidelines, which are typically around 200% of the federal poverty level ($21, 660 for an individual; $44, 100 for a family of four).  Individuals without legal residency status may be eligible.