Macomb County seniors is providing a new prescription card program which will enable seniors to obtain needed prescription drugs at discounted prices. According to John Hertel, chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, the new program is the first such activity in the nation designed to help senior citizens reduce the cost of ever escalating prescription drug prices. Hertel proposed the program in his State of the County message last March. County Commissioners approved funding for the program at their December 16, 1999, Board meeting, appropriating $250,000 to cover the cost of program administration.

Chairman Hertel said, "When you’re on a fixed income, the booming economy doesn’t help you. In boom times, seniors can get left behind, but we’re not going to let that happen here in Macomb County." Hertel was the architect of the discount prescription program for seniors.

Commissioner Philis DeSaele, Senior Citizen Committee Chairperson, added, "Macomb County has worked very hard to be on the cutting edge in responding to the great need for this type of program for senior citizens. Everywhere, units of government are trying to do something positive to meet the needs of seniors for prescription price relief, and we’re proud Macomb County has taken this very proactive first step."

Under the new program, any Macomb County resident currently without prescription coverage and age 60 or older may apply for enrollment in the Macomb County Senior Discount Prescription Program and receive a program identification card, which is shown to a participating pharmacy to receive the discount on a prescription. Plan members can use their discount prescription card at over 40,000 pharmacies nationally, including all major chains and some mail order pharmacies.

The Macomb County program is believed to be the first in the nation where a county government sponsors and pays for the prescription drug discount plan on behalf of its senior citizens without prescription drug insurance coverage, the group most seriously affected by high prescription costs.

Commissioner James Perna, chairman of the county’s Finance Committee, said, "for the small amount of money we will spend for this plan, we will create terrific benefits for our senior population that will use it. I have always been an advocate of this type of senior benefit. Government should provide this kind of help to the taxpayers who need it through new and innovative programs like our new prescription drug program."

The Macomb County program had undergone nine months of scrutiny before finally receiving funding approval. County officials hired a Chicago consulting firm to evaluate the proposed program, whose report ultimately supported the program’s implementation. As part of the program, which was designed by Benefit Control Methods, Inc., of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and is administered by Claimspro, Inc., of Southfield, Michigan, the County will receive reports detailing the cost of drugs and discount savings generated for program participants. Savings are expected to be several million dollars for Macomb County seniors.

The program officially goes into effect for seniors on March 1, 2000, after a brief enrollment form is completed. Unlike many governmental programs that require specific formulas, lengthy application forms and personal appearances, Macomb County’s prescription drug program will provide easy enrollment and will be simple for seniors currently without prescription drug insurance coverage to use. Enrollment forms will soon be available at the Macomb County Senior Citizen Services offices in the Verkuilen Building, 21885 Dunham Road, Clinton Township. Additionally, an application will be made available in the Macomb County Annual Report, which is mailed to every Macomb County resident and in the Senior Focus newsletter which is mailed to 28,000 Macomb County seniors each quarter.

For more information, interested residents should call the Macomb County Department of Senior Citizen Services at 810 – 469-6313.