PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County residents are receiving new prescription drug cards in the mail.

The cards are being offered through a partnership between the county and ProAct Inc., a pharmacy benefit-management company in Central New York.

The cards are for any county resident of any age, and they provide discounts on prescription drugs for people with little or no insurance coverage for drugs.

The card will also provide discounts for certain drugs that are not covered for people who do have insurance.

"This is a great benefit to Clinton County taxpayers, specifically those that are uninsured or underinsured," Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley (R-Area 7, Peru) said in a statement.

"There are no enrollment forms to fill out, no membership fees and no cost to residents or taxpayers — just one card for immediate use."

WIDE USE AREA
More than 39,000 cards were mailed out last week. Cards are also available at participating pharmacies, as well as the county's departments of Social Services, Public Health and the Office for the Aging.

The ProAct card is accepted at most pharmacies in the county and can be used at more than 57,000 pharmacies across the country.

Participants will save an average of 10 to 20 percent on brand-name drugs and 20 to 50 percent on generic drugs.

Users only need to present the card at the pharmacy any time they are filling a prescription.

COMPANY GETS FEE
The program was brought to the county from the New York State Association of Counties, which worked with ProAct.

ProAct gets an administration fee from the pharmacies for each prescription that is filled.

"Our partnership with ProAct and the release of this prescription discount card represents a meaningful step in helping residents save money on prescription drugs, specifically those lacking adequate insurance," said Legislator Jackie Walker (R-Area 8, Town and City of Plattsburgh), who chairs the county's Children and Family Services Committee.

"We in Clinton County government view this as a tremendous opportunity."

SUCCESS SEEN
Franklin County has participated in the managed prescription-discount program from ProAct since May 2008, and users have saved $330,247 on their medications since then.

The free service helps the uninsured or underinsured save money when they fill a prescription not covered under another program they might possess.

A quarterly report forwarded to County Manager James Feeley states that 8,729 claims were made between May and December 2008, which saved residents $189,927.

There were 5,321 claims filed between January and April 2009, which saved prescription buyers $140,320.

— Staff Writer Denise Raymo contributed to this report.