New Hampshire Rx Card Media Center

A new statewide prescription drug program is growing in popularity as New Hampshire residents receive discounts for medications not covered by their health insurance.

The NH Rx Card was unveiled in October to help the state's approximately 133,000 uninsured residents afford their prescription medications, according to program development director Annie Bass. The program was then extended to assist those whose medications were not covered by insurance.

Now, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people participate in the program across the state, Bass said, with some receiving discounts of up to 75 percent for some prescription drugs.

"So far, the response has been wonderful," she said. "Our numbers keep going up."

The program, funded through the pharmaceutical industry and administered by United Networks of America, covers commonly used prescription drugs for psychiatric purposes, weight loss, birth control, smoking cessation and sexual dysfunction.

While many health plans usually require policy holders to pay full price for such prescriptions, New Hampshire residents can now receive a huge break, Bass said.

Several Southern New Hampshire pharmacists said although the program is still new and only a handful of customers use the card each day, those who do are very happy to get discounts they are not used to seeing.

"They love it," said a CVS pharmacist in Salem. "A lot of customers don't have money in this economy."

It's easy for customers to use the card, and processing the transactions does not pose an extra burden for drugstore employees, pharmacists said. There are no applications, or income or age requirements.

"It's just like any other insurance," said another Salem pharmacist.

But approximately a dozen customers outside three area pharmacies last week said they were unfamiliar with program, though some said it sounded like a good idea.

"Any discount is good," Shawn Haggart of Derry said outside Rite Aid in Derry.

The need to publicize the new program is one reason both the public and private sectors are promoting the effort, including the Business and Industry Association and the New Hampshire Medical Society. They are also helping to set up card distribution sites across the state.

"The cost of health care premiums has risen 92 percent since 2000, which is 4.3 times faster than the growth of annual earnings," BIA president Jim Roche said in a statement. "This program is truly helping New Hampshire citizens who are struggling through a difficult economy."

A New Hampshire Rx card can be downloaded from the program's website, www.nhrxcard.com, which also includes pricing information and pharmacy locations. Cards can also be obtained at Shaw's Osco pharmacies.

(Concord, NH) – A new statewide prescription assistance program is set to launch across New Hampshire tomorrow. The New Hampshire Rx Card will offer savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs at more than 50,000 retail pharmacies across the country. All New Hampshire residents are eligible to receive a free card through this program. New Hampshire residents can download a "FREE" card by visiting www.nhrxcard.com. Residents can also obtain cards at various health centers, clinics, businesses, and other card distribution sites that are being set up across the state.

This statewide initiative is receiving support from organizations such as The New Hampshire Medical Society (NHMS). "We see the New Hampshire Rx Card as a way to help our patients with the high cost of prescription drugs," said NHMS President, Dr. Charles Blitzer. The New Hampshire Medical Society, which was formed in 1791, is the largest physician membership organization in New Hampshire.

Business and Industry Association, New Hampshire's Statewide Chamber of Commerce, will be working with program officials to create awareness for the program and to help set up card distribution sites. "The New Hampshire Rx Card is a great option for individuals without health insurance, or those with health insurance plans that lack a comprehensive prescription drug benefit," said Jim Roche, President of BIA. "This prescription drug discount program couldn't come at a better time for New Hampshire citizens who are struggling through a difficult economy."

The New Hampshire Rx Card was launched to help the uninsured and underinsured citizens of New Hampshire afford their prescription medications. However, the program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program to get a discount on non-formulary or non-covered drugs. Anyone not able to access the website, or otherwise obtain a member card, can visit any Shaw's Osco Pharmacy in New Hampshire.

Anyone interested in learning more can visit www.nhrxcard.com.

Those having a tough time paying for prescription medications may be able to get some help from a discount program that has just become available in New Hampshire.

United Networks of America is launching the New Hampshire Rx Card, which provides savings up to 75 percent on prescription drugs and other health products at participating pharmacies and retailers.

The goal, said Alix Cousins, New Hampshire Rx Card program development director at United Networks of America, is to help those who are uninsured or under-insured, although the card is available to all Granite Staters, making it an option for those with Medicare Part D, health savings accounts or high deductible plans, under which medication costs come out of insureds' pockets until the deductible is reached.

Those with traditional health insurance or employer-sponsored health plans also can receive a discount on drugs not covered by their insurance, or non-formulary drugs.

The program is receiving support from the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Medical Society.

"Our members tell us all the time what a huge problem the rising cost of health care is as they try to provide that benefit to their employees," Jim Roche, president of the BIA, told NHBR on a phone interview. "We support the New Hampshire Rx Card program to the extent that we can help provide a service to our members to help mitigate some of those costs."

The BIA is contacting its members to inform them of the program.

"A lot of people ask questions, but it really is a simple program," said UNA's Cousins.

By that, Cousins means members do not have to fill out any reimbursement or claim forms, there are no annual or lifetime limits, age or pre-existing condition restrictions nor eligibility requirements.

The program is paid for through price agreements between United Networks of America and participating pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

While savings on medications can be as high at 75 percent, the typical discount is about 30 percent.

For example, Lipitor 10 mg, a popular cholesterol-lowering drug, could retail for $101.98 for 30 pills, according to a statement released by New Hampshire Rx Card. With the card, members would pay $88 – a savings of 13 percent. Another example is a 30-count prescription of the narcotic painkiller oxycodone with APAP-10 325 mg, which costs $20.28 before savings and $9.30 after the discount – a 54 percent savings.

The blood pressure-reducer Diovan retails for $90.63, but costs $72.39 with the card, a 20 percent discount.

An independent check by NHBR of drug prices through the state's Medicine Cabinet Web site reflected that the pre-discount retail prices are in-line with the prices listed at various drug stores across the state.

New Hampshire residents can sign up for the point-of-sale discount program card at nhrxcard.com. For those without Internet access, a card may be obtained at Shaw's Osco pharmacies.

Once the card is received, residents can present it at the participating pharmacy at the time they purchase their prescriptions to receive their discount.

While Shaw's Osco is the preferred retail pharmacy of the program, said Cousins, the card is accepted at most major retail pharmacies, such as Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid, as well as many other stores around the state, including Stop & Shop, Walmart and Costco.

The card also is accepted outside of New Hampshire at 50,000 pharmacies across the United States and its territories, Cousins said.

A number of other benefits are also included under the discount card such as diabetic supplies, hearing aids, eyeglass frames and even teeth whitening from participating providers.

(Concord, NH) – The Business & Industry Association (BIA) of New Hampshire, in partnership with the New Hampshire Medical Society (NHMS), recently launched a new statewide prescription drug assistance program that makes available free prescription drug cards for all New Hampshire residents. The New Hampshire Rx Card offers savings of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs purchased at retail pharmacies throughout the state and across the country. Average savings are 30 percent.

The New Hampshire Rx Card has no membership restrictions, no income requirements, no age limitations, and there are no applications to fill out. The New Hampshire Rx Card was launched to help the more than 130,000 currently uninsured New Hampshire residents afford prescription medications. The program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage without prescription benefits — common in many health savings accounts (HSA) and high deductible health insurance plans. Additionally, people who have prescription drug coverage can use this program to get discounts on non-formulary or non-covered drugs.

BIA and NHMS are working to create awareness of the card among employers, employees, health care providers, and the general public. "The New Hampshire Rx Card is a great option for individuals without health insurance, or those with health insurance plans that lack a comprehensive prescription drug benefit," said Jim Roche, BIA president. "Health insurance premiums have risen over 90% since 2000 — more than four times faster than income growth. This prescription drug discount program couldn't come at a better time for New Hampshire citizens struggling to deal with rising health care costs during the worst economy in seventy years."

"We see the New Hampshire Rx Card as a way to help our patients with the high cost of prescription drugs," said NHMS President Dr. Charles Blitzer.

Major pharmacies participating in the New Hampshire Rx Card program include Shaw's Osco, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Target pharmacies. New Hampshire residents can download a free "card" by visiting www.nhrxcard.com. Anyone not able to access the website, or otherwise obtain a member card, can visit any Shaw's Osco Pharmacy in New Hampshire. Employers can also request hard-backed cards (similar to a thick business card) for their employees directly from the BIA by contacting llabombard@nhbia.org or (603) 224-5388, ext. 100.