New Rx Discount Card Coming to County

Residents of Allegheny County will have a new option for saving on prescription drugs starting next month. The County has signed a contract with National Association of Counties to join the organizations prescription drug card program. The cards are free and users can show them at participating pharmacies to get an average savings of 24% NACo Director of marketing Andrew Goldschmidt says more than 300 pharmacies in Allegheny County will accept the NACo card. The card will also be accepted I other counties that have joined the program including nearby counties such as Westmorland, Cambria, Somerset and Butler. In all he says there is a national network of more than 60,000 participating retail pharmacies. Goldschmidt says the cards never expire.

By mid June the county hopes to have brochures containing a card available at:

- Allegheny County government offices
- Department of Human Services provider agencies
- Senior centers
- County park offices and facilities
- Allegheny County Library Association member libraries
- Health Department facilities

The cards will also be available on line. County spokesperson Kevin Evanto stress that there is no cost to taxpayers for the program that is administered by CVS Caremark.

Goldschmidt says participating pharmacies range from mom and pop stores to big chain retailers. He says this is not just for people without insurance. “It will help those who have insurance that do not include their drug on the formulary, programs that do not cover so-called lifestyle drugs, seniors who take drugs not covered by Medicare Part D, even pet owners. About 70% of pet prescriptions are the same base as human prescriptions,” says Goldschmidt.