Gov. Richardson has signed an NMPIRG-backed bill that will make prescription drugs more affordable to the hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured New Mexicans. The Prescription Drug Discount Card Program expands the Senior Rx program to make all uninsured residents eligible for discounted medication.

For the over 400,000 New Mexicans without health insurance, skyrocketing drug prices keep critical medication out of reach. An NMPIRG Education Fund study found uninsured Albuquerque consumers pay 66 percent more for the ten most common prescription drugs than the federal government pays for its employees’ prescriptions.

Though Senior Rx, a state-run buying pool, was saving seniors up to 55 percent off prescription drug prices, it wasn’t enough. NMPIRG worked with Sen. Dede Feldman and Rep. Danice Picraux to expand Senior Rx to benefit all New Mexicans.

“This is a victory for New Mexicans struggling with drug costs,” said Ray Prushnok, NMPIRG consumer advocate. “Bulk-purchasing will let consumers negotiate larger discounts as enrollment increases.”