National Association of Counties Prescription Discount Card Program Helped Americans Save More than $107 Million on Prescriptions in 2010

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and WASHINGTON, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2010, residents in counties across the country that participate in the National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Discount Card Program saved more than $107 million on their prescription medications, with an average discount per prescription of 24 percent, according to data released today by NACo and CVS Caremark.

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"The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program was originally launched in 2004 to help consumers cope with the high price of prescriptions and today more than 1,300 counties across the United States participate in the program," said Larry Naake, Executive Director, National Association of Counties.  "This program provides county residents with a no-cost, easy-to-use benefit that enables them to afford medications that may not be covered by their current insurance."

"At CVS Caremark, we recognize that medication adherence can positively affect a patient's health, while also helping to reduce overall health care costs," said Troyen A. Brennan, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark.  "The NACo Prescription Discount Card Program helps reduce the cost of medications – one of the most frequently cited barriers to taking medications as prescribed – and is one example of the many tools and programs we administer to help support medication adherence."

Once a county signs up for the NACo program, the free discount card may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage.  The NACo Prescription Discount Cards are accepted at more than 60,000 pharmacies across the country, including national pharmacy chains, regional chains and independently-owned community-based pharmacies.  There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on how frequently the card can be used. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.  

For more information on the program including which counties are participating in the program and how to locate a local participating pharmacy, residents can visit the program Web site at www.caremark.com/naco or call toll free 1-877-321-2652.

About NACo

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care.  We are uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of approximately 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,100 CVS/pharmacy^® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor^™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's Web site at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

SOURCE CVS Caremark

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