City of Greenville Getting Word Out About Prescription Card

After launching a program this fall built to provide financial relief from prescription medication costs, the City of Greenville is still trying to make its residents aware of the new prescription discount card. 

The program, which is sponsored through the National League of Cities, offers 23 percent savings on average off of retail prices of prescription medications. 

In November 2011, 21 people used a prescription discount drug card and saved $385.94 on their prescriptions, for a 37 percent price savings, according to Ginny Stroud of the City of Greenville, who administers the program. 

The NLC Prescription Discount Card can be used by all Greenville residents and has no restrictions based on a resident’s age, income level or existing health coverage. The card can be used at approximately 100 pharmacies in the Greenville community, as well as at more than 60,000 participating retail pharmacies across the country. CVS Caremark administers the NLC Prescription Discount Card program.

Lillian Flemming, a member of the Greenville City Council, has spoken to several groups, including Greenville Technical College, to raise awareness of the program since it was first announced in November. 

"The National League of Cities monitors the use of the card. We have been told that it takes several months to make people aware of the program — getting the word out," Flemming said. "The City of Greenville has less than 60,000 residents, so we know that it will take a while."

Under the program, people with insurance who have prescriptions that are not covered by their health insurance can use the card to get a discount on that specific prescription. The card is printed in English and Spanish.

The City of Greenville is a member of the NLC, and the discount card program was presented at the national and state NLC meetings for several years, Flemming said. Each city must sign up for the program and agree to take it upon themselves to distribute the cards. 

Flemming said the nearby city of Charlotte has participated in the program for more than two years now. 

“We’re pleased to have joined forces with the City of Greenville to help their residents maintain their health in a cost-effective way,” said Marc Shapiro, program director for the National League of Cities. “By offering a health-focused program that provides significant cost savings and is easy to use, we are helping our member cities target an important need among their residents. We hope that the Prescription Discount Card program brings to residents welcome relief from the high cost of prescriptions.”

Those interested in the card can get more information at the following locations: 

City Hall, David Hellams Community Center, Juanita Butler Community Center, Nicholtown Community Center, West Greenville Community Center, Bobby Pearce Community Center, Senior Action Greenville Housing Authority, Greenville County Department of Social Services, Hughes Main Library, Augusta Road Library - Ramsey Family Branch, Greenville County Human Relations Commission and the Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources (SHARE).