Amador County – Supervisor John Plasse hosted a press conference Tuesday morning to announce a new Prescription Discount Card Program through the county’s private partner, Coast2Coast Rx. Plasse spearheaded the cooperative effort to bring the program to Amador County and called it “a terrific win-win situation for our citizens.” Also on hand to answer questions were County Administrative Officer Terri Daly and Martin Dettelbach, Chief Marketing Officer for Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc., the administers of the program. The program helps consumers save up to 38 percent annually on prescription medications not covered through insurance, according to Dettelbach. This includes over 60,000 brand name and generic drugs, even medication for pets. It will also cover “lifestyle” drugs or drugs not covered under typical insurance plans. Dettelbach explained that Financial Marketing Concepts works with buying groups to provide lower costs for consumers. Plasse said the program will be an “exemplary benefit” for our county because of the high percentage of seniors and individuals on Medicare. The program is already underway in states nationwide and in several California counties, the largest being Ventura, where 6,000 to 7,000 people benefit annually. Dettelbach expects at least 150 counties across the country to come on board by the end of the year. Many county pharmacies, including Wal-Mart, Raley’s, Safeway, Long’s and Pine Cone Drug have already agreed to provide discounts through the program. The card is accepted at nearly 58,000 pharmacies nationwide. “Pharmacies don’t make a lot of money, so part of this effort is to drive people in,” said Dettelbach. Plasse said he originally heard about the program while attending the California State Association of Counties Supervisors Institute last December in San Diego. When compared to NACO, the other leading Prescription Discount Card Program, Plasse found Coast2Coast Rx offered greater benefits and steeper discounts- not to mention a 50 cent royalty per filled prescription. Royalties come out of the dispensing fees that pharmacies usually charge. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved of the program last week and decided all royalties should go to benefit Common Ground Senior Services. Common Ground Director Elizabeth Thompson was on hand to thank the Supervisors, and said the funding is essential to the financial security of Common Ground and the 135 seniors they serve daily through their Meals-On-Wheels program. She announced the recent acquisition of a new meal truck, for which the cost will be partially supplemented by any benefits through Coast2Coast Rx royalties. Daly lauded Plasse’s efforts, saying “it was really John who did it all and brought it all here to us.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thursday, 28 May 2009 00:37
Prescription Discount Program
Amador County – Supervisor John Plasse hosted a press conference Tuesday morning to announce a new Prescription Discount Card Program through the county’s private partner, Coast2Coast Rx. Plasse spearheaded the cooperative effort to bring the program to Amador County and called it “a terrific win-win situation for our citizens.” Also on hand to answer questions were County Administrative Officer Terri Daly and Martin Dettelbach, Chief Marketing Officer for Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc., the administers of the program. The program helps consumers save up to 38 percent annually on prescription medications not covered through insurance, according to Dettelbach. This includes over 60,000 brand name and generic drugs, even medication for pets. It will also cover “lifestyle” drugs or drugs not covered under typical insurance plans. Dettelbach explained that Financial Marketing Concepts works with buying groups to provide lower costs for consumers. Plasse said the program will be an “exemplary benefit” for our county because of the high percentage of seniors and individuals on Medicare. The program is already underway in states nationwide and in several California counties, the largest being Ventura, where 6,000 to 7,000 people benefit annually. Dettelbach expects at least 150 counties across the country to come on board by the end of the year. Many county pharmacies, including Wal-Mart, Raley’s, Safeway, Long’s and Pine Cone Drug have already agreed to provide discounts through the program. The card is accepted at nearly 58,000 pharmacies nationwide. “Pharmacies don’t make a lot of money, so part of this effort is to drive people in,” said Dettelbach. Plasse said he originally heard about the program while attending the California State Association of Counties Supervisors Institute last December in San Diego. When compared to NACO, the other leading Prescription Discount Card Program, Plasse found Coast2Coast Rx offered greater benefits and steeper discounts- not to mention a 50 cent royalty per filled prescription. Royalties come out of the dispensing fees that pharmacies usually charge. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved of the program last week and decided all royalties should go to benefit Common Ground Senior Services. Common Ground Director Elizabeth Thompson was on hand to thank the Supervisors, and said the funding is essential to the financial security of Common Ground and the 135 seniors they serve daily through their Meals-On-Wheels program. She announced the recent acquisition of a new meal truck, for which the cost will be partially supplemented by any benefits through Coast2Coast Rx royalties. Daly lauded Plasse’s efforts, saying “it was really John who did it all and brought it all here to us.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
