For Immediate Release   
Contact: Dave Rose
Public Information Officer
Phone: 520-6540   Cell: 337-9239 
DaveRose@elpasoco.com

El Paso County Commissioners Share Progress on County’s Prescription Discount Program
10,000 Citizens Saved a Quarter of a Million Dollars in Discounted Medicines Over 18 Months

Colorado Springs, February 1, 2011 – The El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is pleased to report on the progress of the County’s Prescription Discount Program, which first launched in July 2009 and has since achieved several milestones in terms of citizens served and dollars saved on medications. As of January 1, 2011, approximately 10,000 citizens have participated in the program using their prescription discount cards to purchase nearly 23,000 prescriptions at a savings of more than $250 thousand. The average, reported savings of these medications compared to the retail price was 23%.

“This is a remarkable achievement for a program initiated just 18 months ago,” said Jan Doran, who chairs the Citizen Outreach Group, a civic-minded volunteer committee that assisted with the launch of the Prescription Discount Program. “These are milestone figures representing substantial savings for a good number of our citizens.”  

Commissioner Vice Chair Sallie Clark, who spearheaded the County’s Prescription Discount Program, has heard from many residents who are helped by the program. “Some citizens have shared that they wouldn’t have been able to purchase essential, prescribed medications without this program, which would have led to more chronic health issues,” said Commissioner Clark.  “As the saying goes, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”  

The Prescription Discount Program is sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and is free to all County residents – regardless of age, income, health status or existing health care coverage. The discount card is accepted at over 80 local pharmacies – including Walgreens, Safeway and King Soopers – and at nearly 60,000 locations nationwide. Prescription discount card users average savings from 20-25%, but some individuals report savings as high as 40-50%.  Commissioner Chair Amy Lathen notes, “The savings come from negotiated national volume discounts.  There is no cost to the county or its taxpayers; it’s just good business to offer the program to our citizens.”

Prescription discount cards are available at County facilities and participating agencies – including the Pikes Peak Library District, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Public Health Department and Department of Human Services. Citizens can also download discount cards and locate participating pharmacies and distribution outlets on the County’s website at www.elpasoco.com, by clicking on the ‘Free Prescription Discount Card’ link.

For Immediate Release   
Contact: Dave Rose
Public Information Officer
Phone: 520-6540   Cell: 337-9239 
DaveRose@elpasoco.com

El Paso County Commissioners Share Progress on County’s Prescription Discount Program
10,000 Citizens Saved a Quarter of a Million Dollars in Discounted Medicines Over 18 Months

Colorado Springs, February 1, 2011 – The El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is pleased to report on the progress of the County’s Prescription Discount Program, which first launched in July 2009 and has since achieved several milestones in terms of citizens served and dollars saved on medications. As of January 1, 2011, approximately 10,000 citizens have participated in the program using their prescription discount cards to purchase nearly 23,000 prescriptions at a savings of more than $250 thousand. The average, reported savings of these medications compared to the retail price was 23%.

“This is a remarkable achievement for a program initiated just 18 months ago,” said Jan Doran, who chairs the Citizen Outreach Group, a civic-minded volunteer committee that assisted with the launch of the Prescription Discount Program. “These are milestone figures representing substantial savings for a good number of our citizens.”  

Commissioner Vice Chair Sallie Clark, who spearheaded the County’s Prescription Discount Program, has heard from many residents who are helped by the program. “Some citizens have shared that they wouldn’t have been able to purchase essential, prescribed medications without this program, which would have led to more chronic health issues,” said Commissioner Clark.  “As the saying goes, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’”  

The Prescription Discount Program is sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and is free to all County residents – regardless of age, income, health status or existing health care coverage. The discount card is accepted at over 80 local pharmacies – including Walgreens, Safeway and King Soopers – and at nearly 60,000 locations nationwide. Prescription discount card users average savings from 20-25%, but some individuals report savings as high as 40-50%.  Commissioner Chair Amy Lathen notes, “The savings come from negotiated national volume discounts.  There is no cost to the county or its taxpayers; it’s just good business to offer the program to our citizens.”

Prescription discount cards are available at County facilities and participating agencies – including the Pikes Peak Library District, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Public Health Department and Department of Human Services. Citizens can also download discount cards and locate participating pharmacies and distribution outlets on the County’s website at www.elpasoco.com, by clicking on the ‘Free Prescription Discount Card’ link.