Delaware Prescription Assistance Program to end Aug. 31

Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, is reminding constituents that, due to budget cuts this year, the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program is coming to an end. As a result, Briggs King is letting DPAP participants know about a few suggested next steps for enrollees.

The program will officially be eliminated Thursday, Aug. 31. The DPAP program was cut from the new FY 2018 state budget, as per Gov. John Carney's recommendation. The governor recommended eliminating the $2.5 million program as part of a larger plan to close a budget gap that totaled $364 million in June.

According to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, current recipients of DPAP will continue to be covered through Thursday, Aug. 31. Before that date, DPAP recipients can adjust their Medicare Part D plans to compensate for this lost benefit. The Medicare Part D premium that will be paid by DPAP will be the August premium. However, DPAP participants will be responsible for the premium payment effective Friday, Sept. 1, and thereafter.

For those who are currently enrolled in DPAP to change their Part D plan to one with a lower premium, call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. Participants are asked to tell Medicare that they are currently enrolled in a Qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program.

A question-and-answer sheet prepared by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is available on Briggs King's Facebook page to help participants make the transition.

For more information, call DHSS at 1-800-996-9969.