Dade County joins discount medicine program

Uninsured or underinsured Dade County residents soon will be able to save about 20 percent on prescription medicines through the National Association of Counties prescription discount card program.

“If it helps just a handful of people, it will benefit the whole county,” Commissioner Lamar Lowery said.

Mr. Lowery told fellow commissioners about the program in January, and they unanimously agreed this month to join.

NACo negotiated prescription costs with CVS/Caremark, Mr. Lowery said, and the savings average 22 percent.

Because the county is a NACo member, there is no cost to taxpayers to join. There are no age or income requirements, no forms to fill out and no medical restrictions for users. The card covers the entire family and is accepted at more than 59,000 retail pharmacies.

NACo spokesman Jim Philipps said the card is like a discount coupon that can be used over and over.

Residents of Hamilton County have saved more than $3 million since county commissioners joined the NACo program two years ago, said Mike Dunne, spokesman for County Mayor Claude Ramsey.

“We find that most people are very happy with it,” Mr. Dunne said.

Whitfield County, Ga., joined the program in July, county spokeswoman Brooke Bennett said.

“I think it is slowly but surely making its way into the community,” she said. “The average saving (per prescription) is pretty high, coming in at around $16.”

Mr. Lowery said cards with the county logo should be available within six weeks, if not sooner.

“With the general state of the economy and with the county losing its largest employer, this is worth the effort,” Mr. Lowery said. “This is something to help us all during hard times.”