Sunday, June 28, 2009

El Paso County, Colorado announces Rx discount program for citizens

EXCITING NEWS FOR EL PASO COUNTY, CO RESIDENTS - Rx discounts provided for citizens

On Wed. July 1, 2009, El Paso County will launch a new Prescription Discount Program, sponsored by National Association of Counties (NACo). This program is free to El Paso County government and is of no additional cost to taxpayers. Cards will be available at County locations throughout the region. For additional information, visit http://www.elpasoco.com/ and click on the logo. The website will list participating distribution points as well as specific information on eligible prescriptions and pharmacies.


Over 80 local pharmacies will provide El Paso County citizens with a significant savings on medications. On Monday, June 29, El Paso County Officials will hold a news conference at the Fountain Valley Senior Center to announce the start up of a Countywide Prescription Discount Program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The news conference will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Center’s multi-purpose room, located at 5745 Southmoor Drive in Fountain, CO. Expected attendees include elected officials, members of the business and health-based communities, school district representatives, pharmacy staff, Citizen Outreach Group (COG) and other County and Municipal partners, who will be available for interviews following the formal presentation.


Beginning July 1, the Prescription Discount Program will be available to all County residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. There is no cost to the county, county taxpayers or consumers to participate in the program, and no enrollment forms, membership fees or use restrictions apply. In addition to over 80 local participating pharmacies, the RX discount card is accepted at nearly 59,000 locations nationwide — offering card carriers savings on medications averaging approximately 23%. Many County facilities have been designated as distribution points for the prescription discount cards, including the Clerk & Recorder Offices, Treasurer’s Office, Assessor’s Office, Department of Human Services, Health Department and Pikes Peak Workforce Center, among others. A complete listing of participating pharmacies and discount card distribution locations can be found on the County website at http://www.elpasoco.com/.

“Given the sustained downturn in our local and national economy, coupled with increasing health care costs, we anticipate that the County’s Prescription Discount Program will bring immediate and substantial savings to many of our residents,” said County Commissioner Sallie Clark. “It’s been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the purpose of this program is to ensure that more of our citizens are able to take advantage of prescribed medicines for treating their ailments and maintaining overall health.” Currently, there are an estimated 80,000 El Paso County residents who are uninsured or underinsured, and other residents may require medications that either are not covered or are “capped” by their existing health plans.
For more information about the County Prescription Discount Program, log onto https://webmail.elpasoco.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.elpasoco.com or call 520-6337 (MEDS).

Who: El Paso County Officials and Partner Agencies
What: News Conference to announce launch of County Prescription Discount Program
When/Where: 10:30 AM, June 29, Fountain Valley Senior Center, 5745 Southmoor Dr., Fountain, CO. Take exit 135 (south Academy exit) east to 85/87 then turn right (south) on 85/87 and another right onto Southmoor Dr.