Commissioners to consider prescription discount plan

Consideration of a National Association of County Commissioners prescription drug discount plan for county residents is again on the agenda when Craven commissioners meet at 7 p.m. Monday.

Commissioners have been considering the plan - much like one offered through the National League of Cities and recently approved by New Bern -- for more than a year.

It was originally brought to the board by Commissioner Lee K. Allen, who served as president of the National Association of County Commissioners health board and was involved in its planning.

The board had asked the Craven County health director to confer with NACC representatives about the program and asked the county attorney to analyze the contract before taking action. Input from both is expected to be available before commissioners discuss and vote on adopting the plan.

The program is administered by CVS Caremark, which gets a small fee from participating pharmacies, and is designed to help consumers save money on prescription medications any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

The discount card is not insurance but could save uninsured residents an average of 22 percent on prescription drugs.

There is no enrollment cost or membership fee. Cardholders pay a negotiated discount price for the pharmacy's retail price, whichever is lower. It is accepted by many, but not all, private and chain pharmacies.

Commissioners are scheduled to hear requests for matching grant funds from Keith McCoy, president of Cove City Fire Department, and Brad White, chief of Dover Fire Department; to hear citizen petitions from John Jenkins and Charlie Simmons; hear a presentation of the Bear Town Bears from a co-chairman, Barbara Lubsen, of a committee coordinating that project; and consider appointments to the Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board and the Council of Governments.

Sue Book can be reached at (252) 635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.