After receiving the first year’s membership for free as a trial offer, the Barton County Commission Monday morning voted to go ahead and join the National Association of Counties.
The fees for the year are $623, but County Administrator Richard Boeckman said membership benefits are worth the cost, in large part due to NACo Prescription Card Program. This provides discounts on medications for county employees.
In the past year, 64 employees have purchased 145 prescriptions for $5,251.19, but only paid $3,494. The average savings per user was over 33 percent.
“Those who use it would miss it very much,” commissioner Jennifer Schartz said in recommending the commission re-up with NACo. It’s taken some time for the prescription card program to gain momentum, but more and more county workers are taking advantage of it.
This is why the commission opted pony up the dues and try it for another year. “It is a good time to help,” commissioner Kenny Schrammer said.
According to information provided to commissioners, NACo (“The Voice of America’s Counties”) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935 and based in Baltimore, Md., NACo provides services to the nation’s 3,068 counties.
It also lobbies on the behalf of counties and acts as a clearing house for ideas, and offers webinars and informational publications.