Fred's chosen as Mississippi Drug Card Program preferred pharmacy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Mississippi Drug Card Program selected Fred’s as the preferred pharmacy for its statewide discount prescription drug program, the Memphis Business Journal reported Tuesday. The preferred status enables state residents without Internet access to receive the program discounts simply by walking into a Fred’s pharmacy and mentioning the Mississippi Drug Card Program.

“This truly is the first program of its kind,” stated Mississippi Drug Card Program director, Lila Cedotal, in announcing the program last month. “This program can help every resident in Mississippi, even those with health coverage.”

Mississippi residents are able to redeem their prescription drug cards and receive savings of up to 75 percent at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies, the program states on its website www.mississippidrugcard.com, including Rite Aid, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie and K-Mart.

The Mississippi Drug Card was launched Dec. 12 to help the uninsured and under insured people of Mississippi afford their prescription medications, stated United Networks of America, which administers the program. However, the program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered drugs.

The Mississippi Drug Card can also be used by those individuals who do not qualify for public funded programs and by people who receive their medicines through charity care providers.

The free prescription card is available online for everyone in Mississippi by simply going to eh Web site and printing a card. The card is also being given out by some hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinics.

United Networks of America has set up similar programs in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona, Colorado and Tennessee, UNA reported.