Newington Council Passes Prescription Discount Card
NEWINGTON - It was unlikely to not pass and now it is official--Newington has enrolled in a program that will allow residents to save on prescriptions using a discount card.

       A motion to join 119 other towns in the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, (CCM) in signing up for the program was unanimously approved by the Town Council at its Jan. 13 meeting.

       â€"Our residents should have a chance to save a lot of money on this,” said Mayor Stephen Woods during the meeting. â€"There’s no reason to not pass this.”

       And it won’t cost the town anything-the program is administered by ProAct Pharmacy Services, Inc., which has already negotiated the discount rates with participating retailers. To date, there has been a collective $4.5 million in savings generated between participating towns since the 2012 launch of the program.

       The initiative is aimed at those who are uninsured or underinsured, but does not have income-based limitations as to who is eligible.

       During the previous Council meeting, when the proposal to enroll in the program was first introduced, Town Manager John Salomone pointed to the town of Berlin, which has saved its residents $33,000 in prescription costs since 2013.

       On average, towns have seen savings of 45 percent in prescription healthcare-related costs.

       The program also includes discounts for vision-related needs. Cardholders can save up to 20 percent for eye exams, 50 percent of the retail price for glasses frames, and 50 percent off for lenses, according to the memo.

       LASIK procedures are also eligible for discounts--40 to 50 percent off of the national average. The program has also allowed cardholders to save between 35 and 65 percent for hearing products and services.

       Newington residents will be receiving information as to how to obtain a card in the mail in six to seven weeks, according to CCM.
MORE NEWINGTON NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Feb 04 2015  |  COMMENTS?