West Virginia to launch free prescription drug program for residents

CHARLESTON, W. Va. More than 10,000 residents of West Virginia will be eligible to receive free prescription drugs under a program announced by Gov. Joe Manchin Thursday.

Starting Sept. 1, about 5,000 people in the Community Access Program of the Partners in Health Network and about the same number of people in the Charleston Area Medical Center’s charity care health program will qualify automatically for the program, dubbed West Virginia Rx.

“The additional participants would increase the size of the West Virginia Rx program by more than 400%,” Manchin said. “That will make it the largest charitable pharmacy program in operation in the country.”

Eligibility requirements for the programs include a family income no greater than 200% of the federal poverty level.