HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2274 - Indicating participation in the national league of cities prescription discount card programCITY OF MARYSVILLE
Marysville,Washington
RESOLUTION NOdJ-7 <f
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE,WASHINGTON INDICATING
PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES PRESCRIPTION
DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM.
Whereas many citizens of Marysville are among the millions of Americans
without health insurance or with limited prescription drug coverage, and;
Whereas the National League of Cities is sponsoring a program in
collaboration with CVS Caremark to provide relief to city residents around the
country from the high cost of prescription drugs, and
Whereas NLC Prescription Discount Card Program will be available to
member cities of NLC at no cost to those cities, and;
Whereas CVS Caremark will provide participating cities with prescription
discount cards, marketing materials and customer support, and;
Whereas the discount cards offer an average savings of 20 percent off the
retail price of most prescription drugs, has no enrollment form or membership
fee, no restrictions based on the resident's age or income level, and may be used
by city residents and their families any time their prescriptions are not covered by
insurance, and;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF MARYSVILLE,WASHINGTON,that the City of Marysville will inform the
National League of Cities of its intent to participate in the NLC Prescription
Discount Card Program and will work with NLC and CVS Caremark to implement
the program to the benefit of the residents of Marysville.
PASS~City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this/{,-;of
JJo ,2009.
CITY OF MARYSVILLE
BY~~
Dennis L. Kendall, Mayor
ATTEST:
By2a,,~_
Tr"y Jeffries, City Cle~
Approved as to form:
By~rc(4)
t
Grant Weed, City Attorney
National League of Cities Presaiption Discount Card
Frequentfy Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
I just received my card.Can I use it right away?
Yes,just use your card to start saving immediately. Present your prescription discount
card at a participating retail pharmacy when you fill or refill your prescriptions.
How much does the card cost?
Your prescription discount card is provided to you free of charge. You pay the cost of
the prescription less any applicable discount.
Does everyone in my family need an individual card?
No. Everyone in the family may use the same card if desired.
Can I use this card to get discounts on my pet's medications?
Yes, if your pet has been prescribed a medication that is also used to treat a human
condition, you may receive a discount on the medication by taking the prescription to a
participating retail pharmacy.
Can I use my card to get discounts on over-the-counter products and non-
prescription medications?
Not usually. However, discounts are available for many diabetic supplies.
How is this prescription discount program different from traditional prescription
insurance?
This is not insurance; it is a prescription discount program. The card provides immediate
discounts at participating retail pharmacies. Upon presenting your card to the
pharmacist, you will pay the lower of a discounted price or the pharmacy's regular retail
price. There are no claim forms to fill out and no limit to the number of times you can
use the card. These discounts are available only at participating retail pharmacies.
Can I use my prescription discount card with my current insurance benefit to
reduce my costs?
Your card cannot be used in conjunction with other insurance. However, you are
encouraged to use your card to purchase prescriptions anytime they are not covered by
your insurance plan.
Can I still use my prescription discount card if I sign up for a Medicare
prescription plan?
Yes, you can use your prescription discount card anytime you need to purchase a
prescription that is not covered by your Medicare prescription plan or any other
insurance.
Should I use my prescription discount card during my deductible and
coverage gap periods of coverage for covered medications?
No. Only use your prescription discount card to purchase non-covered
medications.
Can I use my prescription discount card in addition to my Medicare
prescription plan and get additional discounts?
No. You need to present either your Medicare prescription plan card or your
prescription discount card. Only use your prescription discount card when
purchasing medications not covered by your Medicare prescription plan.
I'm not going to sign-up for a Medicare prescription plan;can I still use my
prescription discount card?
Yes, you can continue to use your prescription discount card just as you do
today.
Pharmacy and Pricing Questions
Which pharmacies accept the card?
The prescription discount card is accepted at more than 59,000 retail pharmacies
nationwide, including the major chains as well as many independent pharmacies. Ask
your local pharmacy if they participate or visit www.caremark.com/nlc or call toll free 1-
888-620-1749 to find out if a specific pharmacy participates in the program.
How much willI save?
While savings on each prescription may vary, you can save an average of 20 percent
off of the pharmacy's regular retail prices for prescription drugs. In addition, you may
save even more on select medications.
Will I always receive the lowest price?
Yes. You will receive the best price available to you through this program at the
participating pharmacy. On occasion, pharmacies will price a particular medication
lower than the discount rate provided by the card. If that occurs, you will pay the lower
price.
Can I find out the discounted price of my prescriptions before going to the
pharmacy?
Because prices can vary by location, only the actual pharmacy can tell you the exact
price of the prescription. However, you can look up an estimated price for medications
at www.caremark.com/nlc or call toll free 1-888-620-1749.
Why did the price of my prescription change since the last time I purchased the
prescription?
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Drug prices may vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Even pharmacy chains have
different prices in their stores depending on the population they are servicing.
Additionally,manufacturers'drug prices change periodically.
Will I save 20 percent on all my medications?
Because a pharmacy's retail price or usual and customary charge can differ greatly by
pharmacy,your exact percentage of savings may vary depending on the prescription
drug and the price you have paid before.
Should I use my prescription discount card at a retail pharmacy with a flat rate
generic pricing plan?
Yes, always present your prescription discount card when buying prescriptions not
covered by insurance. For a medicine on a generic pricing plan you will pay either the
flat rate or the prescription discount card price,whichever is lower.
About Specialty Pharmacy
What is specialty pharmacy and what kinds of services do they offer?
Specialty pharmacy offers delivery of injectable and select oral specialty medication and
supplies to the location of your choice. Services include delivery notification and refill
reminder calls to help you stay on your treatment plan. You'll also receive expert care
services including counseling,follow-up care calls,informative disease-related materials
and access to health experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What drugs are offered through specialty pharmacy?
Medications for a variety of chronic conditions including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid
arthritis, cystic fibrosis,hemophilia,infertility,immunologic disorders,Crohn's disease,
Gaucher disease,pulmonary hypertension,Fabry disease, MPS 1, blood dyscrasia,
growth hormone deficiency,respiratory syncytial virus,hepatitis C and more are
available through specialty pharmacy.
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