Macon County joins NACo Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

The cost of prescription drugs continues to rise, and everyone is feeling the squeeze. To help out residents, the Macon County Board of Commissioners approved participation in the National Association of Counties’ Prescription Drug Discount Card Program in January. Macon is now one of 38 Tar Heel counties participating in the program.

All NACo member counties are eligible to participate in the program, which can save card users about 20 percent. Caremark Rx, Inc., which also serves as pharmacy benefits provider for the NCACC County Health Plan, administers the program. The card is available for anyone to use for potential discounts on prescription drugs not covered by insurance. Cardholders also may save on pet prescriptions at participating retail pharmacies. A national network of more than 57,000 participating retail pharmacies will honor the discount card.

The ease of the Prescription Drug Discount Card Program is its biggest selling point. There are no forms for citizens to fill out, and no maintenance required on behalf of the county. There is no cost to counties participating in the program or citizens using the discount card. Discount cards are sent to participating counties for distribution. Macon County plans to distribute the cards at locations such as its senior services center and public library.

To enroll in the program, the county must first fill out an interest form on the NACo Web site. NACo will then contact the county to address specific details and answer any questions. A signed contract can then be returned to NACo to begin the program. The average startup time for the program is currently eight to 10 weeks. Macon County plans to begin distributing cards to residents in April.

For more information and to fill out an interest form, visit the password-protected Member’s Only section at www.naco.org. NACo has created login and password information for all manager and commissioner e-mail contacts it has on file. Your login identity will be your e-mail address, and your password will be the full name of your county (for example, Carteret County).

Participating North Carolina counties are (through January 2007): Alexander, Ashe, Bertie, Bladen, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Catawba, Cherokee, Columbus, Currituck, Davidson, Edgecombe, Gates, Haywood, Hertford, Jackson, Lee, Macon, Martin, Mitchell, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, Scotland, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga and Yadkin.