Prescription drug cards being used

Cape Girardeau County residents are taking advantage of a free prescription drug discount card since it was issued by the county in November.

During January and February, more than 150 residents used the National Association of Counties-sponsored card, said Andrew Goldschmidt, NACo director of membership marketing. The first two months it was available in Cape Girardeau County, almost 100 residents used the cards.

"I'm impressed," Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said of the increased number of users. "We're happy that people are taking advantage of the cards."

The prescription drug discount cards are intended to help uninsured and under-insured residents. The cards work much like a coupon with an average savings of 20 percent per prescription filled, Goldschmidt said.

NACo reports that users of the card saved close to $3,000 on 312 prescriptions filled in January and February.

"These are primarily for the people with no insurance or the underinsured," Jones said. "We just felt like they needed some benefits."

NACo signed a three-year contract with Caremark/AdvancePCS, one of the country's largest pharmaceutical services companies, to administer the program.

The card cannot be used in conjunction with drug discount benefits received through a medical insurance plan. Prescription drugs not covered by insurance can be purchased with the card.

Cards may be used by all county residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage and are accepted at 20 pharmacies in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

The prescription drug discount cards are available at various locations throughout the county, including the county administration building and Cape Girardeau and Jackson's city halls.

Cape Girardeau County treasurer Roger Hudson said he recently restocked cards at the Missouri Veteran's Home and Cape Girardeau's VFW, after both locations recently ran out.

Local pharmacists still say their prices are less than the actual savings from using the card. And they have said Cape Girardeau County's elderly residents will save more by enrolling in one of the more than 40 Medicare-approved prescription programs than by using the cards. Seniors who delay signing up for the Medicare program will pay 1 percent more each month after May 15.

Seven counties in Missouri are issuing the prescription discount drug cards to residents but Goldschmidt said more counties have inquired about the program.

Bollinger County Presiding Commissioner Wayne Johnson said after consulting with pharmacists in the county, the commissioners didn't see any savings from joining the program.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246