county drug card update

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Staff report
A free discount drug card offered by Rowan County has saved residents nearly $36,000 since August.
Now an effort is under way to get the card in the hands of thousands more county residents.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners agreed in July to launch the prescription drug card program, which is sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The county is making the card available to all county residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. Nationwide, savings average 20 percent.
A report from NACo shows that the average savings in Rowan was 22.6 percent, with the savings ranging from $11.54 to $14.21 per prescription.
Rowan residents used the card in filling around 2,600 prescriptions.
The report also shows that less than 1,000 residents used the card.
Commissioner Jon Barber, who pushed for the county’s participation, has announced an expanded effort to get the card in the hands of more county residents.
The United Way and the Rowan-Salisbury Schools have joined the effort to distribute the card.
Cards were sent home with elementary school students. A second phase will target middle and high school students.
Barber explained the importance of distributing the cards through the school system. “In partnership with Rowan-Salisbury Schools and United Way, our goal is to get the discount drug cards in the hands of as many families as possible. With 21,000 students and 3,000 employees, we have the opportunity to reach 24,000 families at one time.”
Barber, a teacher at Southeast Middle School, said cards are being sent home with all students and employees. In addition the school system will use the Connect Ed voice mail message system to inform everyone about the cards and the benefits.
“If these cards can provide families of our students with the ability to pay for prescription medication they might not otherwise be able to afford, it could help reduce student absences. This is worth the effort,” said Barber in a press release.
Bob Lippard of the United Way cited the value of partnering with the county and school system to provide information that will help toward the growing medical needs of the community.
The United Way will provide information through the 211 system.
The county’s 18 volunteer fire departments will also have the cards available for residents in their districts.
Barber noted that by having the schools and fire departments involved, the county can spread the news about the discount card to help as many families as possible.
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For more information about the program, call 1-877-321-2652 or visit the Web site at www.caremark.com/naco.
Groups or businesses interested in distributing the card may contact Joni Hess at 704-216-8106.
Cards are available at all county departments.
In addition, cards are available at these locations:
– All three YMCAs;
– Meals on Wheels;
– All county meal sites;
– Rowan Clerk of Court;
– United Way office;
– Rowan Business Alliance;
– Rowan Cabarrus Community College óstudent services;
– Town Halls ó China Grove, Cleveland, East Spencer, Faith, Granite Quarry, Kannapolis, Landis, Rockwell and Salisbury;
– Rowan Helping Ministries;
– Stallings Memorial Baptist Church;
– The Forum;
– Salisbury Post;
– Atwell One Stop;
– Cornerstone Church;
– Mitchell and Fair Funeral Home;
– Salisbury Surgical Associates;
– Rowan Regional Medical Center;
– Social Security office;
– Jerry’s Shell Station;
– Towne Pharmacy; and
– Statewide Title.