City Helps Residents Save Money on Prescriptions

Did you know you could get a free discount prescription card from the City of College Park?

With the steady rise in prescription drug prices, it's surprising more College Park residents aren't using the city's free discount prescription card, which could save them up to 25 percent on prescription drugs not covered by their insurance.

The benefit has been available to city residents for a year now, but as of August only 41 had participated in the program.

So far, College Park participants have saved a cumulative $916 on a combined total of 110 prescriptions. 

The discount cards are free. Residents can download the card from the program sponsor's website, or pick one up at City Hall, Public Services, Youth and Family Services and the Attick Towers – no questions asked. They don't have to apply or fill out any paperwork. There is no activation of the card required – just present it at any participating pharmacy nationwide.

There are no restrictions, income requirements, or limits on the use of the card, participants can use the card for any prescription meds not covered by insurance or Medicaid. The card is accepted at any of the 60,000 participating pharmacies, and major drug store chains nationwide like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, K-Mart, Walmart, Target and pharmacies inside major grocery store chains.

The city's discount card didn't look familiar to a staff pharmacist at the CVS in the College Park shopping center either. It's not that CVS location doesn't accept the city's card, but rather none of the patrons had ever used it there that she was aware of.  "I've seen a lot of other [discount] programs come through, but not the City of College Park," said Angela Oduniami.

The savings vary by drug and pharmacy. Discounts are applied to the price most any prescription drug, including some that double as pet meds like Doxycycline – an antibiotic used to treat Lyme disease which can affect you and your dog. Drugs for treating depression are also prescribed for pets.

The discount card shouldn't be used in lieu of existing insurance and Medicaid coverage. But, if for example, participants have a prescription for a supplement that their insurance doesn't cover, the discount will help defray the cost. Program details are attached to the card.

Caremark administers the program for the National League of Cities – an organization that advocates for cities and offers the benefit to its members. Caremark pays a nominal fee to participating pharmacies only when the discount is applied, which pays for the printing and distribution of the cards.

City Council member Patrick Wojahn said the program was easy for the city to implement. He was the one who recommended city officials make the benefit available to College Park residents.

"I'd heard about it on WTOP one morning on the way to work and thought, 'Why don't we have that?" Wojahn recalled.

Wojahn said the city publicized the initial launch of the program with posters and ads in local newspapers. And said he's sent out e-mails about the program to his constituents several times. 

Still, as monthly card usage reports indicate very few residents know about it.

Other cities in Maryland currently participating in the program include Belair, Bladensburg, Boonsboro, Bowie, Capital Heights, Charlestown, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Laurel and Seat Pleasant.

"I encourage everybody to take advantage of the program," Wojahn said. "It can really be [beneficial] and save a lot of money for residents."