A decision made by the Barton County Commission this week could save county residents a considerable amount in health care in the year to come.
The commissioners approved the county participating in the National Association of Counties Prescription Discount Program.
County Administrator Richard Boeckman explained the program is especially helpful for residents who do not have insurance to cover prescription costs
According to information from the county: “One membership benefit of the National Association of Counties is the Prescription Discount Program. NACo is in a partnership with CVS Caremark to provide a prescription discount card for member counties to offer to residents who are uninsured or under insured. “The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program provides savings by passing along the Caremark negotiated discount rates to individuals with little or no prescription benefit coverage.”
Boeckman told the commissioners that more than 40 Kansas counties participate in the program, which works with a variety of participating pharmacies.
He added that there are five participating pharmacies in Barton County. All of them are in Great Bend.
The program provides a varying amount of savings.
The local program will be administered through the Barton County Health Department and discount cards will be available at the courthouse, the Health Department, at pharmacies and at other locations that will be announced.
There is a $643 annual fee to the county, though the first year of participation is at no cost. Boeckman noted there is no cost for the public to participate.
According to information on the NACo Internet site:
“The National Association of Counties is in partnership with CVS Caremark to provide a prescription discount card for NACo member counties to offer to their residents who are uninsured or under insured. The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program provides savings by passing along the Caremark negotiated discount rates to individuals with little or no prescription benefit coverage.
“The prescription discount card program can save residents an average of 24 percent off of the full retail cost of prescription medications that are not covered under a traditional insurance plan, as well as some diabetic supplies. There is no cost to NACo member counties or their residents to participate in the program. The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program offers real value, easy access, a large national pharmacy network of more than 60,000 pharmacies, and excellent customer support.
“Counties benefit from the program by being able to offer their county residents a no-cost alternative to paying full price for prescriptions. Counties may also feature their county logo or seal on the front of the card.
“Residents benefit from the program by saving an average of 24 percent off of their prescriptions. There is no cost for a resident as well as no forms to fill out, no age or income requirements and no medical condition restrictions.
“The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program is NOT insurance.”
Boeckman reported that percentages of savings appear to vary from one county to another, and they won’t be known here until the program has been in use.