Florida, Hawaii Offer Residents Prescription Drug Discount Cards

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 24 Dec 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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Summaries of two articles about prescription drug discount cards in Florida and Hawaii appear below.

• Florida: Gov. Charlie Crist (R) on Thursday announced a statewide prescription drug discount program for residents younger than age 60 with incomes less than 300% of the federal poverty level, the St. Petersburg Times reports. The program is similar to one launched recently in Ohio. Residents who qualify for the discount card will save an average of 20% to 30% on the retail cost of brand-name and generic drugs, according to state officials. People older than age 60 who have no other drug coverage will not be subject to an income requirement, and Medicare prescription drug plan beneficiaries will be able to use the card for discounts on drugs during the so-called "doughnut hole" coverage gap. The state has signed an agreement with Ohio-based Envision Pharmaceutical Services to help manage the program, state Secretary of Elder Affairs Douglas Beach said. A Web site with detailed information about the program also was launched on Thursday (Nohlgren, St. Petersburg Times, 12/20).
  
  
• Hawaii: Residents of Oahu are eligible for a no-cost discount prescription drug card that may reduce the cost of medications by 20%, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports. The program, sponsored by the National Association of Counties and administered by CVS/Caremark, has no restrictions based on age, income level or health insurance status. Participants cannot use the cards in combination with existing prescription drug coverage. The program could be rolled out statewide (Au, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 12/19).

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