Broome County Surpasses $3 Million in Prescription Savings with ProAct Rx Discount Cards
(Binghamton, NY) Broome County residents have collectively saved over $3 Million at the pharmacy counter using a free discount prescription drug program sponsored by Broome County Government in the fall of 2009. The card has been used for more than 95,000 prescription purchases saving participants an average of 49% or $31.80 per prescription filled.
Broome County partnered with ProAct, Inc. to provide financial relief for residents who are uninsured or underinsured and needing to fill prescriptions. Participants can also use the discount cards to obtain discounts on vision, hearing, and LASIK services. This program was made available through ProAct, Inc. at no cost to Broome County or participants.
The Prescription Drug Discount Cards are free and anyone who doesn’t currently have a card is encouraged to visit the county homepage www.gobroomecounty.com or the ProAct website www.NYRxDiscountCard.com to print their own card. For those who do not have a computer or a printer at home, this can be done at any public library or senior citizen centers that have the proper technology. The cards are also available at many local pharmacies and at various Broome County departments, including: the Health Department and Social Services. Initially, in 2009, a card was mailed at ProAct’s expense to every postal address in Broome County. Since then, hundreds of cards have been circulated at a variety of distribution points.
Broome County Executive Patrick Brennan said, “this program has effectively put $3 million in the pockets of consumers, thanks to use of the discount card in the last 22 months. Consumers saved $1.4 million in 2010, and already $1.3 million in the first 8 months of this year. I urge people to keep spreading the word about this terrific program. I have heard stories of people helping family members and neighbors obtain the card so that they too can share in the savings,” Brennan said.
Broome County Health Department Director Claudia Edwards said, “The number of Americans who do not have health insurance continues to increase. The National Health Interview Survey found that 45.4 million people (15%) of the nation is uninsured. In Broome County 18% are uninsured, many of which are working families whose employers’ do not offer affordable health insurance. Evidence shows that uninsured individuals who cannot afford prescription drugs experience more adverse outcomes; physical, mentally and financially, and are more likely to be hospitalized for diseases that could have been managed in the outpatient setting. The ProAct prescription drug card increases access to much needed and in some cases, life sustaining pharmaceuticals.”
The program offers residents a hassle-free way to save money. There are no enrollment forms to fill out, no membership fees, and no age or income requirements. The prescription discount card can be used at any pharmacy in the area and at over 62,000 pharmacies nationwide, including many well know national stores as well as many independent pharmacies. Seniors have found the card especially useful in helping defray some of the costs related to the Medicare prescription “donut hole”. The discount the consumer receives varies based on what drug is prescribed. The price or discount for each drug can fluctuate throughout the year. For questions about the discount program, visit www.NYRxDiscountCard.com.
The New York State Association of Counties has endorsed this discount program. There are currently 46 counties across the state that have endorsed the ProAct Prescription Drug Discount Program. Residents of participating counties have collectively filled 2.1 million prescriptions, amounting to more than $59 Million in savings through this program.
Additionally, ProAct now offers a dental discount program which unlike the Prescription Drug Discount Card has an annual fee of $36.50 for individuals and $52 for families. The Dental Network Card program provides cardholders with information they can use to locate dentists who have agreed to charge relatively low fees for dental services. This program is not insurance. Information on the Dental Network Card can be accessed at www.heginc.com/dentemax-NYSAC.html.
ProAct, Inc. is a pharmacy Benefit Management Company based in Central New York and a division of Kinney Drugs.
Posted: 8/23/2011 1:10 pm
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