FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 20, 2005
CONTACT: Jonathan Burns, (850) 922-5871

TALLAHASSEE - The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced today Medicaid participants in the Southwest Florida will have access to their prescription medications prior to scheduled refill dates in preparation for Hurricane Wilma. Effective immediately, pharmacies will be authorized to process prescription refills early.

"Now is the time to prepare and Medicaid participants in Southwest Florida should make sure they have enough of their medication in case refills are not available or they are unable to reach their local pharmacy,” said AHCA Secretary Alan Levine.

The counties affected include: Monroe, Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota.

Beneficiaries should pay particular attention to prescriptions they are using to treat chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions, to assure they are not without these important maintenance medications.

Medicaid Pharmacy Services is responsible for managing the $2.4 billion drug program for the Florida Medicaid Program.

Working to improve access to affordable, quality health care to all Floridians, the state Agency for Health Care Administration administers Florida's $15 billion Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 32,000 health care facilities and 30 health maintenance organizations, and publishes health care data and statistics.

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