Residents can receive prescription assistance

SANDPOINT — Bonner County and the National Association of Counties are teaming up to help provide prescription medication assistance to the uninsured and underinsured.

County commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday to participate in the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program.

“At no cost at the local level, we can offer up to Bonner County residents a 20-percent discount on all prescriptions if they don’t have insurance or if it’s not payable,” commission Chairman Joe Young said.

The association is partnering with CVS Caremark to provide the discounts. There is no cost to the county because of its membership within NACo.

“It’s a national county association, which gives us, at the local level, a voice at the national level,” said Young, who is facing fellow Republican Mike Nielsen in the May 25 primary election.

There are no enrollment fees, income or age requirements, and no medical condition restrictions. The program also offers discounts for specialty medications or those who fill prescriptions by mail.

Consumers are also guaranteed to receive the lowest possible price, even if pharmacies already offer a particular medication below the retail price.

“There are about 59,000 participating pharmacies in the whole program,” said Deputy Clerk Kathy Tendick, who researched the program on behalf of the county commission.

Tendick also contacted other counties in Idaho about their experience with the program. She said Adams County residents saved $4,000 on prescription costs in 2008.

Young said 30 of Idaho’s 44 counties are participating in the NACo program.

For more information about the program, contact the Bonner County Commissioners Office at 265-1438 or Andrew Goldschmidt at (202) 393-6626. Participants can also enroll through NACo’s website (www.naco.org/drugcard).