Indiana

(Jeffersonville, IN) – A prescription drug discount card unveiled by Mayor Tom Galligan this afternoon could save people living and working in Clark County an average of 30 percent on prescriptions if they lack drug coverage or require prescriptions not covered under their insurance plan.

According to a federal Government Accountability Office report released in March, prices for 100 common prescription drugs increased 6.6 percent annually between the first quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2010, compared to 3.8 percent annual increases in overall medical costs during the same period.

"There's been a lot of talk about medical costs in the United States during the past few years," said Galligan. "This is something simple we can offer - and at no cost to the city or the consumer - to help get discounts on prescriptions that people would otherwise pay full price for."

The City of Jeffersonville is providing prescription discount cards through Indiana Drug Card. While the average savings is about 30 percent, some medications receive discounts of up to 75 percent.

Cards can be obtained on the home page of the city's Web site www.cityofjeff.net or at the Sewer Billing Office on the first floor of City Hall at 500 Quartermaster Court. Cards will soon be available at all five of the city's fire stations, as well.

The discount cards are honored at more than 56,000 pharmacies nationwide. Pharmacies with local presences that accept the cards include CVS, Kroger, Meijer, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens and Walmart.

Galligan said, "This card is accepted at thousands of U.S. pharmacies. While it's not the same as health insurance, it can make prescriptions more affordable to people without insurance or those who need medications not covered by insurance.

L.A. mayor launches prescription discounts for residents

The city has contracted with Envision Pharmaceutical Services, which will negotiate with drug companies to obtain lower prices for residents who carry discount cards.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced a prescription-drug discount program for city residents. Standing behind him at another event Monday is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Ann Johansson / Los Angeles Times / August 31, 2009)

Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa launched a prescription-drug discount program for city residents Monday, following up on a campaign promise he made five years ago while running for mayor.

At a senior center in Montecito Heights, Villaraigosa said the city had contracted with Ohio-based Envision Pharmaceutical Services, which will negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to obtain lower prices for residents who carry discount cards. The discounts, which could range from 5% to 40% depending on the medicine, will be available at about 1,500 Los Angeles pharmacies that participate in Envision's network.

Villaraigosa said the program, which will be free for participants, was a "small but important opportunity for people to have access to prescription drugs at a lower cost."

"This is the first of its kind, anywhere, and as it gets noticed around the country, I think you're going to see more cities try to do what we are doing here," Villaraigosa said. "We are going to figure out a way to get this in the hands of everybody in this state."

The mayor said the Los Angeles program would be different from those in other states and counties because there are no age, income or residency restrictions.

But the National Assn. of Counties, which partnered with CVS Caremark to offer a prescription drug discount card to all of its members about four years ago, also has no eligibility or paperwork requirements for its program.

At least 1,248 U.S. counties, including Riverside and 21 others in California, offer the association's program to their residents. Andrew Goldschmidt, the association's director of membership and marketing, said there have been preliminary discussions with Los Angeles County officials about also enrolling.

Envision runs discount prescription card programs in Ohio and Florida, as well as programs for private businesses across the country. Company executives say they have a national network of about 62,000 participating pharmacies.

Gerald Kominski, associate director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, said he viewed the city-sponsored bulk purchasing program as "excellent public policy." He said it was most likely to help some of the 2 million county residents who lack health insurance as well as those who lack prescription drug coverage.

"This is a good compromise in the absence of universal health coverage," Kominski said.

Envision would profit from the program by adding a $2.50 charge to the price it negotiates on certain drugs. If a pharmacy already offers a lower price than what Envision has negotiated, company officials said, the customer would get that lower price.

The council approved the program in 2005, but a spokeswoman for the mayor said officials did not immediately find a company that could meet their goals. They issued the request for proposals in October 2008. Villaraigosa said he had faced difficulties "convincing the city bureaucracy that we should be in the business of providing prescription drug benefits."

The paper discount cards will be sent to residents in their Department of Water and Power bills, and can be printed online at http://forlarx.com. They also will be available at city libraries and senior and recreation centers.

maeve.reston@latimes.com

Harris County Gives Away Prescription Discount Cards

Drug card use ranks third in country

By FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net

Arkansas City ranks third in the nation in the number of people who are using a prescription drug discount card to help residents save money on medical costs.

According to National League of Cities data sheets provided by City Manager Steve Archer, Ark City ranks third in the total number of people using the card, compared to the cumulative number of people using it in other cities.

Ark City has 937 cumulative users of the card, according to the NLC's June 2009 report. It ranks behind Clarksburg, W.V., which has 1,514 users, and Athens, Tenn., which has 1,017 users.

According to the report, Ark City prescription drug card users have saved a total of $24,891 under the program. The card has been used here for 2,113 prescriptions.

City Commissioner Patrick McDonald championed a prescription drug discount card program, and the cards have been available here since March 1.

McDonald said he learned of the program through an NLC newsletter. Ark City is a member of the NLC.

"I went to their Web site and got more information," McDonald said. "Then I went to the city manager and asked that they look into it more."

The program costs the city nothing, a key reason he backed it, McDonald said. About 30 cities across the country, including Ark City, Lansing and Douglass, offer citizens the discount drug cards.

The cards have been available here since March 1. The discount cards may be used by all residents of Arkansas City and have no restrictions based on the resident's age, income level or existing health coverage. They may be picked up at City Hall.

"This has been a pretty good program," Archer said today. "I'm glad Commissioner McDonald has brought it to our attention."

All Monroe County residents are eligible for a prescription drug discount program that could save consumers an average of 22 percent on prescription purchases not covered by insurance.

The Monroe County commissioners announced local participation in the program — sponsored by the National Association of Counties — during a news conference last week.

All residents are eligible to pick up a prescription discount card at local municipal offices, social service agencies, the offices of locally elected state officials, and the Monroe County Grants Department in the county Administrative Center in Stroudsburg. Consumers present the card when paying for their uninsured prescriptions.

"Most of our pharmacies in Monroe County will accept this," Commissioner Suzanne McCool said.

Rite Aid, Wallgreens and CVS are among the participating pharmacies, says Commissioner Donna Asure, who worked with the National Association of Counties to establish the program here.

"It will cover prescriptions that aren't covered by insurance, even if you do have a prescription drug plan," Asure said. "It's the pharmaceutical companies that are offering to help out on this."

NACo negotiated an agreement with drug manufacturers to offer the discounts. The counties association administrates the program. Monroe County taxpayers assume none of the costs.

"We don't even print the cards," Asure said.

Savings using the drug card average 22 percent, the commissioners said, depending on the drug and quantity purchased. Card holders are eligible for higher discounts on a three-month supply of some medications ordered through the mail.

The cardholder pays the negotiated discount price or the pharmacy's retail price, whichever is lower.

Cardholders also can save on some pet prescriptions at participating pharmacies.

A list of participating pharmacies is posted online at caremark.com/naco. For program information call 1-877-321-2652.