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County to Introduce Prescription Drug Discount Card

From staff reports

County officials are set to unveil a new prescription drug discount card today that can save county residents on their prescription drugs.

The current economic climate calls for ways to help residents reduce the high cost of much-needed prescription medications.

Scott County, through a partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo), is launching a free Prescription Discount Card program to help area residents with the high cost of prescription medications. The launch of the program will be announced during a press conference planned for this afternoon at the Scott County Administrative Offices Board Room.

All pharmacies located in Scott County will accept the discount card including Broadwater Drug, CVS, Food City Pharmacy, Scott County Drug, Weber City Drug, Village Pharmacy and the pharmacy at Clinch River Health Services.

Scott County Administrator Kathie Noe originated the program in county and jumped at the chance to assist those without a drug prescription plan.

The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program gives the county a chance to offer prescription savings to uninsured and underinsured county residents. The program can help residents save money on prescriptions at an average savings of 24 percent. The program assists county residents who are struggling financially or pay out of pocket for their prescriptions. There is no cost to the county and no cost to residents. Simply use the card. The entire family can be covered with one card.

Discounts are negotiated directly with participating pharmacies. Over 60,000 pharmacies participate in the program and it is used by county residents in more than 1,400 counties.

In 2010, residents in counties across the country that participate in the Prescription Discount Card Program saved more than $107 million on their prescription medications, with an average discount per prescription of 24 percent, according to data released by NACo and CVS Caremark.

"The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program was originally launched in 2004 to help consumers cope with the high price of prescriptions and today more than 1,300 counties across the United States participate in the program," said Larry Naake, Executive Director, National Association of Counties. "This program provides county residents with a no-cost, easy-to-use benefit that enables them to afford medications that may not be covered by their current insurance."

"At CVS Caremark, we recognize that medication adherence can positively affect a patient's health, while also helping to reduce overall health care costs," said Troyen A. Brennan, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark. "The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program helps reduce the cost of medications - one of the most frequently cited barriers to taking medications as prescribed - and is one example of the many tools and programs we administer to help support medication adherence."

Once a county signs up for the NACo program, the free discount card may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage. The NACo Prescription Discount Cards are accepted at more than 60,000 pharmacies across the country, including national pharmacy chains, regional chains and independently-owned community-based pharmacies. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on how frequently the card can be used. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

For more information on the program including which counties are participating in the program and how to locate a local participating pharmacy, residents can visit the program Web site at http://www.caremark.com/naco or call toll free 1-877-321-2652.