County drug card saves residents $250,000 on prescriptions

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — In the two years since its inception, the prescription drug discount program has saved Sullivan County residents more than $250,000.

To mark the second anniversary of the program, and laud the women behind it, three county lawmakers held a news conference on August 23 at the Sullivan County Government Center. Members of the Senior Legislative Action Committee (SLAC) were given credit for getting the ball rolling by Sullivan County Legislators Leni Binder, Ron Hiatt and Sam Wohl.

Hiatt said SLAC “brought staff to the county” to research the project, and help it become a reality. SLAC member Tula Brown researched several discount drug programs, and ultimately chose one supported by the National Association of Counties as the one that could offer help to the most people.

The program, and the card that goes with it, is offered free of charge to all Sullivan County residents and provides savings on the purchase of prescription drugs not covered by insurance. The savings on average is 25 percent per prescription. Most pharmacies in Sullivan County participate in the program.

SLAC member Priscilla Basset said the plan was intended primarily for those not covered by insurance, such as young families. She said, however, that the program can also benefit insured residents because not all prescription medications are covered by insurance, and the program can be used in that circumstance.

Hiatt said, “This program is effective because it is available to everyone, and the cards have been utilized over 18,000 times over the two-year period.”

Legislator Leni Binder said another reason the program is successful is that people can sign up for it without answering a lot of questions, such as, “Is anyone in the household working?”

The cards are available at the county Office for the Aging, the government center and pharmacies in the county.