September 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or by email at iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

Stroger Launches Prescription Drug Discount Card  

Cook County residents can save average of 20 percent off retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.

See below for high-resolution photos.

September 20, 2007 – September 20, 2007 – Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger today launched a discount card program to help residents cope with the high cost of prescription drugs. The County is making free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) that offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.

“Cook County is proud to partner with NACo to offer this prescription discount card to our residents,” said President Stroger. “The Cook County prescription discount card offers significant savings for uninsured and under-insured residents of our County, and even those fortunate to have prescription coverage can use the card to save money on drugs that are not covered by their health plan. I am pleased to bring this prescription discount to residents and their families who will welcome the financial relief.”

There is no cost to county taxpayers for NACo and Cook County to make these money saving cards available to residents.

All County residents are eligible for the NACo prescription discount card, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage. In addition to being accepted at participating pharmacies in Cook County, a national network of more than 57,000 participating retail pharmacies also will honor the prescription discount card.

“The National Association of Counties is proud to partner with one of our most innovative members, Cook County, to roll out the NACo/Cook County Prescription Drug Card Program,” said Larry Naake, NACo Executive Director. “The NACo Prescription Drug Card Program has been implemented in 850 counties and has saved county residents $46 million on more than 4.2 million prescriptions. Starting today, many residents of Cook County will benefit from this innovative program.”

To receive a discount on prescriptions, an individual simply presents the card at a participating pharmacy. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance.

Cards will be available at the County Building at 118 N. Clark, at Commissioners’ offices, and at various other sites around the County. County residents can call toll free 1- 877-321-2652 or visit www.co.cook.il.us or https://naco.advancerx.com for assistance with the program.

The discount card program is administered by Caremark Rx, Inc., one of the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit management companies.

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 3,066 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.

Cook County is the 19th largest unit of government in the nation representing more than five million residents in 128 municipalities and 30 townships.

For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

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