Some Arizona Seniors Confused By New State Prescription Drug Discount Program
"Scant advertising" and the presence of competing plans have created confusion among Arizona seniors about the State of Arizona Pharmacy Discount Program, which was launched June 1, the Arizona Republic reports (Nelson/Fehr-Snyder, Arizona Republic, 6/12). Seniors ages 65 and older and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare are eligible for the discount plan, which is operated by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program. Under the program, participants pay $9.95 per year and receive 15% to 55% discounts off the average prescription drug retail price. Participants pay an additional $2 to fill prescriptions at a pharmacy or $1 to fill the prescription by mail, a method that offers greater discounts. Rx America, a pharmacy benefit manager that operates 500 pharmacies in Arizona, provides the discounted prescription drugs to participants (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/16).
Pharmacy Confusion
Some pharmacies have no information about the new program, leading seniors to be confused about what pharmacy chains are participating in the program, the Republic reports. Program brochures listed Wal-Mart as a participating chain but the company is not, and Safeway, which is participating, is not among the nine chains listed in an early brochure for the program. In addition, some Costco pharmacies are participating in the Arizona plan while others are not. Brook Boggess, a spokesperson for Rx America, said that the program is experiencing "growing pains" and that an early printing deadline for brochures caused the pharmacy-participation mix up. Boggess said that Rx America does not have much money for advertising because "it would cut into discounts [the company] could offer," the Republic reports. Boggess said that Rx America is buying a newspaper ad to run next week and that all Costco pharmacies should be participating. Pharmacies are considering advertising for the program as well, according to the Republic. Furthering seniors' confusion, Walgreens has launched its own discount program to compete with the Arizona discount program, the Republic reports. Under the Walgreens discount plan, which is available at 199 stores in Arizona, people 55 and older get a discount on drugs after paying a one-time membership fee of $5. Of the around 600,000 Arizona residents who are eligible for the Arizona discount program, about 8,000 have enrolled (Arizona Republic, 6/12).
