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WHEREAS, Allegheny County has the second largest 50+ population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the cost of health care has risen rapidly as new medications, medical advances and an aging population require more health care services and one of the greatest medical problems facing older residents is the cost of medications; and
WHEREAS, a study of Medicare HMO enrollees show out of pocket pharmaceutical payments rose 56 percent in the last three years; and
WHEREAS, in March 2002, Dr. Joseph P. Rudolph MD FACEP launched the Physician Medicine Assist Program (PMAP), a program modeled after a Vermont physician-hospital organization called United Health Alliance, which allows consumers to buy medication from Canada; and
WHEREAS, the PMAP program can help save as much as 75 percent on medication costs by dealing with Canadian pharmacies, thus bypassing huge drug prices on medicine in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the PMAP targets seniors in Allegheny County who have no pharmacy benefits, those who exhaust their HMO pharmacy benefits and others who have no pharmaceutical coverage; and
WHEREAS, more information about PMAP may be obtained by searching the internet at www.fpcmeds.com <http://www.fpcmeds.com> or by calling 412-653-4900.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commends and thanks Dr. Joseph Rudolph for his advocacy of the health and welfare of the elderly and for providing them with an alternative to the high cost of medication.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that March 25, 2003 be hereby declared "Dr. Joseph Rudolph Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.