HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9244 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS N0.9244
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 18, 2010
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SUBJECT: NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD
ISIS PROGRAM
The Human Resources Department and the Community Relations Department have reviewed and
evaluated the prescription discount card program promoted by the National League of Cities (NLC)
and recommend against City participation in the NLC Prescription Discount Card Program. Rather
than implementing an entirely new program, staff recommends that the City continue to provide
information about all discount prescription cards, including the prescription discount card offered by
Tarrant County and the National Association of Counties (NACo). The City's Health Benefits Advisory
Committee concurs with this recommendation.
The NLC prescription discount card program, sponsored by CVS Caremark, offers residents of
member cities the opportunity to obtain, at no cost, a prescription drug card that provides up to an
average 20 percent discount off the retail price of prescription drugs from participating pharmacies.
The card is available only to individuals who have no other health insurance or prescription drug
coverage and cannot be used to supplement insurance benefits. City of Fort Worth employees who
are enrolled in the City's Health Benefits Program are not eligible for this prescription discount card.
Cities participating in the NLC program are required to identify City staff to serve as the principal
program contact and must agree to promote the program via local media and to residents at City
venues and through the City's communication vehicles. In addition, the discount card itself would be
imprinted with both the CVS Caremark and the City of Fort Worth logos. There is concern that this
could lead residents to believe that this is a City program even though the City would have no input
into the manner in which the program is implemented by CVS Caremark.
City staff has determined that several low-cost prescription drug programs are currently available in
the Fort Worth community through local retail pharmacies and through NACo. These programs are
similar to the NLC Prescription Discount Card Program. Tarrant County has participated in the NACo
program for three years and is expected to reach the $1 million savings milestone in July. Community
Relations staff and Parks and Community Services staff have provided information and referrals to
the NACo/Tarrant County program since its inception and routinely inform residents of the availability
of prescription discount cards. Discount cards through the NACo/Tarrant County program are
distributed at 35 locations in the Fort Worth city limits, including City community centers.
A link to information on the NACo/Tarrant County program has been added to the City's website or
can be accessed at www.tarrantcounty.com/ecommissioner/cwp/browse.asp?a=709&C=44446.
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Vanessa Boling, Director of
Corn nity Rel ors, at 8 7-392-7534.
C
Dale A. Fisseler, P.E.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS