September 9, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's poor, disabled and
elderly will see fewer prescription drugs as state budget cuts are
implemented.

Health and Human Services Director Emma Forkner said at a
Cabinet meeting Tuesday the state will have to reduce prescription
drug coverage under Medicaid to handle across-the-board cuts that
have been ordered.

Forkner says prescriptions will be filled with a maximum of 31
pills instead of 34. About 3,000 people will be affected by
reducing the maximum number of prescriptions anyone can get to 10.

Gov. Mark Sanford used his Cabinet meeting to call on the public
to pressure legislators to return to Columbia and make specific
budget cuts and not deal with projected shortfalls with a
one-size-fits-all approach.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)