Indigent Medication Program

Because of recent advances of psychotropic medications, many individuals suffering from a mental illness have reported decreased side effects, improved quality of life, and a reduction in hospitalizations. Unfortunately, these advances are costly, making it very difficult for individuals to purchase psychotropic medications and/or pay for laboratory costs.

The Division of Mental Health initiated a program in 1998 to assist individuals with a diagnosed mental illness, who had exhausted all other assistance options and could not afford to purchase their much needed psychotropic medications and/or lab costs. An individual is considered to have a mental illness if they meet the requirements of diagnosis regarding schizophrenia, mood, paranoid, panic or other severe anxiety disorder, somatiform disorder, personality disorder, other psychotic disorder, or other mental disability that may lead to a chronic disability, as defined in the DSM-IV-TR. Our goal is to help individuals live successfully in the community and reduce the need for repeated, prolonged, and expensive inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations.

The Indigent Medication Program is a time limited assistance program to be used until other resources can be found. Due to the numerous referrals from the community mental health centers and consumers and/or family members of consumers who are looking for assistance with the costs of psychotropic medications, the Division can not guarantee that all the individuals that apply for this program will be assisted.

Who qualifies for this program?

1. Financially needy persons who are maintained in the community under a forced medication order and who are ineligible for Medicaid.
   
2. Other persons as referred by Community Mental Health Centers who:

• are actively participating in treatment, rehabilitation, and/or support services,
  
• are ineligible for Medicaid benefits,
  
• do not have a supplemental or health insurance policy which covers prescription medications,
  
• are financially needy.
  

3. People on a waiting list to receive services from a Community Mental Health Center who

• are ineligible for Medicaid benefits,
  
• do not have a supplemental or health insurance policy which covers prescription medications,
  
• are financially needy.
  

4. Those people discharged from Human Services Center within the past 6 months, who will be receiving services from a mental health provider other than a Community Mental Health Center who:

• are ineligible for Medicaid benefits,
  
• do not have a supplemental or health insurance policy which covers prescription medications,
  
• are financially needy.
  

Preference is given to persons who:

1. Are frequently hospitalized and/or suffer frequent crises due to lack of personal funds to purchase medications,
2. Have been denied by pharmaceutical company's indigent medication programs or who's pharmaceutical indigent funding or Medicaid application is "pending".

What medications or services are covered under this part of the Indigent Medication Program?

• Psychotropic medications or medications to treat mental illnesses.
• Medications that are used along with psychotropic medications that decrease the side effects associated with psychotropic medications.
• Laboratory work that lets the physician know that the medication dosage is at a therapeutic level.

Before a referral will be considered, the Division of Mental Health must receive the following:

• Signed Indigent Medication release of information
• Referral Form
• Names and doses of psychotropic medications and/or lab orders
• Pharmacy or Lab name, fax, and phone number
• Diagnosis
• Date of last hospitalization.

In addition to the eligibility criteria, persons seeking state funding must:

• agree to take all psychotropic medications as prescribed,
  
• not sell, give away or otherwise distribute medications intended for their personal use,
  
• keep all scheduled psychiatric appointments and comply with treatment,
  
• develop a plan for long term needs as state funding is limited,
  
• understand that funding may end with no longer than a 30 day notice,
  
• continue to exhaust other funding resources.
  

To apply for the Indigent Medication Program, please complete the following application & release forms. You must be a South Dakota resident to apply. It is very important to be as specific as possible when completing this application. Incomplete applications will delay processing.

Once you complete this application & release, please mail or fax them to our office:

Division of Mental Health
Hillsview Properties Plaza,
East Highway 34
c/o 500 East Capitol
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-5070
Phone: 605-773-5991
Fax: 605-773-7076

Forms
All the forms below are in Adobe PDF format.
Indigent Medication Temporary Assistance Referral Form