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Ohio Launches 'Best Rx' Program
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Bob Taft today announced the start of a new prescription drug discount card program that is expected to lower the cost of medicine for many Ohioans. More than one million Ohioans may be eligible to receive the Best Rx card, Taft said. The Ohio's Best Rx card will lower the cost of prescriptions for Ohioans who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage and are age 60 or older or who have a total family income of less than 250% of the federal poverty guideline ($23,280 per year for a single person, $31,236 per year for a couple).There are no application or enrollment fees.Ohio's Best Rx participants will pay a discounted price for prescription medications at all participating pharmacies, Taft said. The estimated average savings per prescription is expected to range between 20% to 30%, with individual savings determined by the drug prescribed and pharmacy utilized. Participants will also have the option of filling prescriptions by mail order. Several independent pharmacies and more than 70% of pharmacy chain locations are participating in the program, Taft said.The Ohio's Best Rx program is the result of legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Taft in December 2003. The framework for the program was conceived by a coalition of groups representing drug manufacturers, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Ohio United Way, Ohio Council of Churches and AARP. "We believe Ohio's Best Rx will provide a significant discount while preserving consumer choice, access and the ability of doctors and patients to determine the best treatments," said Kurt Malmgren, senior vice president of government affairs for PhRMA."The Ohio AFL-CIO formed the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs which included labor unions and two dozen community service and non-profit organizations representing the uninsured and seniors who need help with paying for medicine," Bill Burga, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO, said. "Our goal was to secure a meaningful discount for the greatest number of people who need it, and Ohio's Best Rx achieves that." The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is responsible for overall operation of the program. Simple-to-complete applications are available at many locations including participating pharmacies, county agencies, hospitals and health centers, Taft said. Applications may also be requested by calling (866) 923-7879 or may be printed from the Ohio's Best Rx Web site (www.ohiobestrx.org)."