North Carolina is providing money to expand a program to provide free prescriptions to people without drug coverage. The Attorney General's office is giving nearly $1 million of drug settlement money to the non-profit pharmacy MedAssist to expand services to people outside of Mecklenburg County.
Lori Giang, the organization's director, says free prescriptions are available through pharmaceutical companies, but it's a daunting and time-consuming process to navigate alone.
"For the highest educated of us it's a difficult process to go through and if you're busy and trying to work two jobs, it's probably something you're not going to be able to manage," says Giang.
Giang expects MedAssist will be able to help about 10,000 more people this year with the grant. Seven towns and cities across the state will offer places where patients can register for free medication. The state is also considering expanding services to Onslow and Cleveland counties. Attorney General Roy Cooper hopes to take the program statewide over the next few years.