NASSAU’S FREE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD
PASSES MILLION-DOLLAR SAVINGS MARK

Comptroller Issues NassauRx Discount Price List for Top 23 Drugs;

Savings As Much As 40% Off Even the Lowest Pharmacy Prices
64,000 Discount Prescriptions Filled To Date in Nassau

In its first four months, the NassauRx card, Nassau County's free prescription discount card, has already saved county residents $1.1 million off the retail prices of prescription medicines, Nassau County Comptroller Howard S. Weitzman said today at a press conference.

The Comptroller also issued a NassauRx price list for the 23 most popular prescription drugs, with comparisons to retail prices available at area pharmacies. The prices available using the NassauRx card are up to 40 percent lower than the lowest commonly available retail prices (see table, p.5).

"When we started this program in July, we believed we could leverage the buying power of Nassau's 1.3 million people to provide meaningful dollar savings on vital medications, and do it at no cost to Nassau's residents and taxpayers. The results in the program's first four months confirm this," Mr. Weitzman said.

"Since July, Nassau residents have filled more than 64,000 prescriptions using the NassauRx card, saving more than $1.1 million dollars off the retail prices. Card usage continues to increase every month, with approximately 15,600 prescriptions filled in November. Clearly, we are addressing a need.

"Moreover, the price comparison data we are issuing today shows that the discounts are impressive. For example, the commonly prescribed allergy drug Allegra, costs anywhere from $87.09 to $112.99 for a 30-day supply at area pharmacies. Using NassauRx yields a 31 percent discount at participating pharmacies off the lowest available retail price, resulting in a price of approximately $59.70."

"I want to acknowledge and thank the participating pharmacists of Nassau County for their generous support. They provide the discounts, without which this program would not be possible," Mr. Weitzman said.

Pharmacist Don Cantalino, owner/operator of Uniondale Chemists and regional representative of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, appeared with Mr. Weitzman at the news conference, expressing support for the program. "Prescription drug prices are rising at three times the current rate of inflation," he said. "The public needs to understand that pharmacists are not the problem - the problem is the outrageous profit margins of the drug manufacturers.

"Pharmacists are willing to help patients in any way possible," Mr. Cantalino continued. "That's why most pharmacists have embraced NassauRx. The program is helping thousands of residents. It's not the answer to the problem, but it is a good start."

The free NassauRx card, a discount rather than an insurance product, offers substantial discounts on commonly prescribed prescription drugs, including diabetic supplies, to all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing coverage. Since the program began, savings have averaged about $17 per prescription, approximately 24 percent below pharmacy retail prices.

The NassauRx price list, now available on the Comptroller's Web site, compares discounted NassauRx prices for 23 of the most popular prescription drugs with the usual range of retail prices in Nassau County. The chart compares NassauRx prices with the typical range of retail prices in Nassau, as posted by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer on his Web site.

"Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has done New York State consumers a great service by making it easy to compare pharmacy prices for many prescription drugs on the Web at a site his office has created (www.NYAGRx.org). However, in Nassau, this comparison is usually unnecessary.

"The NassauRx price list we are publishing today shows that Nassau residents no longer need to comparison shop for prescriptions - just bring your NassauRx card with you to a participating pharmacy, and you will automatically get the lowest possible price. In most cases this means that you can continue to patronize a trusted pharmacy, or use a pharmacy closer to you, rather than traveling in search of bargain prices."

More than 90 percent of the county's pharmacies, including every major chain, now participate in the program. The card is also accepted at more than 54,000 pharmacies nationwide.

The Comptroller instituted the program to assist at least 350,000 Nassau residents, who have no health insurance, or whose insurance provides inadequate coverage for prescription costs.

The program is free to consumers, and there are no enrollment forms to fill out. All costs of administering the program are borne by a private pharmacy benefits manager, which manages the program in return for fees paid by pharmacies and rebates the company may negotiate with drug manufacturers.

The program has attracted widespread attention from other counties and municipalities throughout the state and nationwide. At a September meeting of the New York State Association of Counties, Mr. Weitzman announced that the private company that administers the program had agreed to offer similar free discount card programs to other interested municipalities.

Several other counties, including Rockland, Tompkins, Monroe and Orange counties in New York, Montgomery County in Maryland, have launched or are in negotiations to establish pharmacy discount card programs modeled after NassauRx.

Initially, discount cards were distributed via mail to over 500,000 Nassau County households. Social service agencies, neighborhood medical centers and other outreach efforts have helped distribute thousands more to area residents, who may also request cards through a toll-free customer service number or via a NassauRx Web site.

Unlike Medicare discount cards targeted to seniors, the program has no age requirements or termination date. Even if consumers have existing prescription drug coverage, they may use NassauRx to save money when purchasing drugs not covered under their existing plans. The card may not be combined, however, with an insurance card or other discount card to further reduce the price on a single purchase.

The savings for users of the NassauRx card are generated by participating pharmacies, which agree to accept prices for covered medications that are closer to the prices they make available to insurance companies.

"Most pharmacists are caring professionals who look out for their clients. We've heard from several who, aware of the financial burden on their customers, try to find ways to help them better afford the medicines they need. We're grateful for the support Nassau's pharmacists have given the discount program," Comptroller Weitzman said.

The NassauRx program maintains a toll-free phone number, 1-877-321-2652, and a Web site, https://NassauRx.advancerx.com/, to fill requests for cards and provide program information. The site also allows consumers to look up the NassauRx price for any prescription drug covered under the plan.

NassauRx Pricing vs. Retail Prices
For Commonly Prescribed Prescription Drugs

*Prices taken from the AdvanceRx website for NassauRx, as of 11/29/04.

**Of Nassau County pharmacies, as surveyed and published by NYAGRx, 11/15/04. Retail prescription drug prices at warehouse clubs usually reflect a greater discount than lowest prices listed above.