Media Release
| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| August 21, 2006 | Mike Olender | 732-246-4772 |
Governor Corzine Signs Bill Creating Rx Drug Pricing Registry
New Jersey Citizen Action, Seniors, Citizens with Disabilities Join to Celebrate New Drug Shopping Web-Site
East Brunswick, NJ — Today Governor Jon Corzine visited the East Brunswick Senior Center to sign into law a bill creating the prescription drug pricing registry. The registry, to which the Governor referred as one of his legislative priorities of the year, includes a website which will allow visitors to shop for the 150 most commonly prescribed drugs by entering their zip code, drug name and dosage. Updated "at least weekly" by all pharmacies in New Jersey, the registry will be a useful tool for those New Jerseyans with no prescription drug insurance, as well as those seniors and citizens with disabilities stuck in the "donut hole" of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
New Jersey Citizen Action, which help draft the legislation and lobbied for its passage, joined seniors, citizens with disabilities, and allied organizations to celebrate the signing of this important bill.
"We are very pleased the Governor Corzine gave this legislation its due attention, despite the congested budgetary situation in Trenton, said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, NJCA Executive Director. "Though this registry is not at all a comprehensive solution to the crisis facing those without prescription drug coverage, we applaud Senator Buono, Assemblywoman Greenstein, and Governor Corzine for giving uninsured and underinsured New Jerseyans an easy-to-use and accessible tool to assist them in finding affordable drugs".
The legislation was modeled after the NYAGRX drug pricing registry being administered in New York by the state Attorney General's office. According to recent studies, New York consumers using the registry saved an average of $17 per prescription.
New Jersey's prescription drug pricing registry website, which will go on-line in one year, will be available in English and Spanish and be accessible according to Federal Section 508 standards ("Bobby Approved"). The registry will also be available in printed format as well as a toll-free "1-800" help hotline.
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New Jersey Citizen Action is the state's largest citizen watchdog coalition, with more than 60,000 family members and over 100 affiliated organizations. 