Gov. Christine Gregoire announces appointments to Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation Board

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2005

OLYMPIA � Sept. 23, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced her two appointees to the five-member Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation Board.

�This is a vital board that will establish a non-profit foundation to assist low-income, uninsured individuals in obtaining free or low cost prescription drugs,� said Gov. Gregoire. �The new foundation will help individuals access the various prescription drug assistance programs offered by manufacturers by assisting qualified residents with filling out applications for free or low cost drugs. Additionally, the foundation will raise private dollars and help get us closer to providing everyone in this state with the medication that they need.�

This foundation grows out of a successful community-based program in Spokane that gives free drug samples from manufacturers to low-income residents.

�I recognize that a huge number of Washingtonians are struggling to pay for their prescription drugs,� said Gov. Gregoire. �Spokane�s low-income residents are now receiving more of the medications that they need, and I hope to extend that success to the rest of Washington.�

Gov. Gregoire appoints the following board members:

Dr. Sam Selinger of Spokane. Selinger has been appointed to a term effective Sept. 15, 2005, ending Sept. 15, 2008. He has served the Spokane area since 1978 as cardiovascular surgeon with Northwest Heart and Lung Associates. He is also a founding member and the Volunteer Medical Director of Spokane�s Project Access, a charity network of physicians and hospitals providing the full range of healthcare to low-income, uninsured persons. He has been nationally recognized for his service to the community of Spokane. Dr. Selinger will bring his experience serving low-income, uninsured persons throughout Washington State. His experience in solving these problems will be invaluable in guiding the Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation in the right direction.

William E. Struyk of Renton. Struyk has been appointed to a term effective Sept. 15, 2005, ending Sept. 15, 2008. As the Regional Director for Johnson and Johnson Struyk has an insider�s perspective on the workings of prescription drug manufacturing. His record of service as a member of the Washington Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and as a fundraising committee member on the Oregon National Alliance for the Mentally Ill demonstrates his awareness of a variety of healthcare needs. Struyk�s many talents will be essential is setting up the Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation as a viable institution.

Carlos Olivares of Toppenish. Olivares has been appointed to a term effective Sept. 15, 2005, ending Sept. 15, 2008. Olivares is the Executive Director of Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. His commitment to the health of farm workers, a demographic that falls largely within the scope of the foundation, has led him to numerous positions and awards. Most notable among these was the National Association of Community Health Centers �Luis Garcia� Award, which recognized Olivares as an outstanding administrator of a migrant health center. Olivares will represent the interests of the rural communities in Washington, and provide experience running a non-profit organization to the Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation Board.

Kristen West of Olympia. West has been appointed to a term effective Sept. 15, 2005, ending Sept. 15, 2007. West is the Executive Director of CHOICE Regional Health Network, a non-profit organization devoted to the healthcare needs of low-income, uninsured people. Under West�s leadership CHOICE has flourished, growing from one to 25 employees and serving more than 20,000 people last year. West brings an unwavering commitment to providing low-income Washingtonians access to health care services. Her background running a health care non-profit will provide an experienced voice on the foundation board.

Lisa Stone of Seattle. Stone has been appointed to a term effective Sept. 15, 2005, ending Sept. 15, 2007. Stone is the Executive Director of the Northwest Women�s Law Center. Since 1995 Stone has overseen the financial and personnel management of the Law Center, which provides for the legal needs of women and seeks to advance the legal standing of women in Washington State. The Law Center has become increasingly focused on issues related to women�s health care and insurance needs. She has shown a passionate devotion to the needs of women and their families. Stone�s legal expertise in this area will be invaluable, and her awareness of women�s specific prescription drug concerns will be an invaluable asset on the Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation Board.

This foundation is one of several strategies we are taking to address this and is part of our larger effort to reduce the overall cost of health care to our citizens.

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