Oakland County, Mich., Senior Discount Drug Program to Expand to Medical Supplies

Oakland County, Mich., officials on Nov. 1 announced plans to expand a one-year-old senior prescription drug discount program to include "durable medical hardware," after the program saved 13,670 elderly residents $1.78 million in pharmacy costs, the Detroit News reports. While other counties around the state offer prescription drug discounts, Oakland will be the first to include medical supplies, such as insulin testing kits and blood pressure monitors. The drug card program, which costs taxpayers $6 "per senior" annually, offers a savings of up to 50% on generics and up to 20% on brand-name drugs to residents 60 years old or over who lack prescription drug coverage. The program, which does not have income eligibility requirements, is "free to county residents" for their first three years; after three years, participants will be charged 50 cents per month. The News reports that although the program cost $82,000 last year, the county "has a budget that could support twice as many participants." Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said, "Oakland County is a wealthy county, in an enviable position, and frankly, we can do this for our seniors" (Brooks, Detroit News, 11/2).