OLYMPIA—The state of Washington has announced a new drug discount card available to any state resident. The card will reduce costs between 15 percent and 25 percent for prescription drugs not covered by insurance.
The Rx Washington Card provides discounts at most mail order and retail pharmacies across the state. The annual membership fee is $10 per person.
"The new Rx Washington Card will provide an additional resource for Washington residents who do not have prescription drug insurance. It may also provide discounts on medications that are not covered by their existing insurance," said Duane Thurman, director of the state's Prescription Drug Program. "Many insurance or discount programs, including the new Medicare drug program, do not cover every single prescription."
Those interested in receiving an application for the program can call 1-866-576-3862, or visit www.rx.wa.gov.
The $10 annual fee will cover administrative costs of the program, which will be run by Express Scripts, a major pharmacy benefits management service. Retail and mail order pharmacies affiliated with Express Scripts will participate in the Rx Washington Card program.
The discount card program is the initial phase of a new drug purchasing consortium for the state that will eventually permit local governments, businesses and labor organizations to join with state health care programs to purchase drugs more cost-effectively.
The Prescription Drug Program is a joint effort by three Washington State agencies: the Health Care Authority, the Department of Social & Health Services and the Department of Labor & Industries.
The primary goals of the program are to develop an evidence-based prescription drug program to identify preferred drugs, make prescription drugs more affordable to Washington residents and state health care programs and increase public awareness regarding the safe and cost-effective use of prescription drugs.
