Survey: NACo Rx discount cardholders save bundles

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and WASHINGTON —  Patients that participated in a prescription discount card program created by the National Association of Counties saved more than $107 million on their medications in 2010, a new survey released by CVS Caremark and NACo found.

What's more, CVS Caremark and NACo noted, the average discount per prescription was about 24%.

NACo's prescription discount card program, which is operated by CVS Caremark, was launched in 2004 to address consumers' need to manage high prices of their prescriptions. The NACo prescription discount cards are accepted at more than 60,000 pharmacies across the country, including national pharmacy chains, regional chains and independently owned, community-based pharmacies.

There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on how frequently the card can be used. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance, NACo said.

Presently, more than 1,300 counties across the United States are enrolled in the program.

"At CVS Caremark, we recognize that medication adherence can positively affect a patient's health, while also helping to reduce overall healthcare costs," said Troyen Brennan, EVP and chief medical officer at CVS Caremark. "The NACo prescription discount card program helps reduce the cost of medications — one of the most frequently cited barriers to taking medications as prescribed — and is one example of the many tools and programs we administer to help support medication adherence."

For more information on the NACo prescription discount card program, visit Caremark.com/NACo.