Generic drugs online

Source: Waco Tribune Herald

Date: 2-Nov-2008

Author: Regina Dennis

About 1,000 McLennan County residents have enrolled in the county's prescription-drug discount program since its inception in May.

As of the end of September, 994 residents have picked up the discount drug prescription cards, according to a monthly report by the National Association of Counties. The association offers the program free to its member counties through a partnership with Caremark Rx, a pharmaceutical-services company in the same corporate family as CVS drugstores, which negotiates the discounts and receives a fee from participating pharmacies.

The discount cards are free to residents - uninsured and insured - and can be picked up from area pharmacies and county offices. On average, McLennan County participants saved $6.89 per prescription using the card, or 18.9 percent of the total prescription cost, according to the report.

The program saw its largest month of enrollment in June, when 636 county residents enrolled. However, only 93 people received discount cards in September. Wanda Koon, director of the county welfare department, which is administering the program, said the county hopes for more interest in the program.

"It takes a while to get the word out, especially because there are other prescription programs out there that may be more beneficial depending on the circumstances of the individual," Koon said. "We're working to increase awareness, but we realize that this is not going to benefit everyone."

On Thursday, pharmacy chain CVS announced that it will begin offering 90-day supplies of 400 generic drugs for $9.99 through its Health Savings Pass discount prescription-drug program rolling out this month. Wal-Mart's $4 Prescription Program includes 30-day supplies of 1,000 generic prescriptions or 90-day supplies for $10. H-E-B's Prescription Platinum Rewards program has more than 500 generic medications for $5, as well as 90-day generic prescriptions for $9.99.

Koon said the county is planning to spread awareness of the program through more outreach aimed at students at McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College. The county also has begun distributing the cards through Meals on Wheels.

"We encourage people who have insurance or Medicaid or some other prescription discount card to get one (of the county's discount cards) and take both cards to the pharmacy and have the pharmacist run both to see which one would be cheaper," Koon said. "We've been getting reports back from some people that some of their medicines are cheaper with the county's card, so it doesn't hurt to have both options."