A recent report indicates that the partnership between the United Way and FamilyWize has helped more than 1,000 local residents save more than $100,000 on medical prescriptions.
FamilyWize describes its function as acting like a consumer group that buys service for the uninsured and underinsured. The discounts and savings on medications are provided voluntarily by more than 61,000 participating pharmacies, which agree to provide prices similar to what they give large insurance companies and employers.
The partnership has helped save $857 million for 8.5 million users across the country on 43.7 million prescriptions. The average savings is about 39 percent, or $17 per prescription.
The FamilyWize Prescription Savings Card functions like a reusable prescription discount coupon. It does not require any personal information or eligibility criteria from the user.
The card can be used by anyone. A user can allow their card to be used by all of their family members and friends. Savings is expected eight out of 10 times over the pharmacy's retail price.
Jane Browning, executive director of the United Way of Garland County, said a major goal is to alert more local residents and pharmacies about the cards. Pharmacies provide the savings through their participation in the FamilyWize network.
"We would be delighted to have this sitting at the pharmacy window for people to pick up and use at the pharmacy," Browning said. "I think most of these pharmacies are not even aware."
The local United Way office can be contacted by calling 623-2505. Browning said pharmacies can be provided with any number of cards they request.
The office is located at 233 Hobson Ave. The United Way has previously promoted the distribution of cards.
"The response was overwhelming," Browning said. "It overwhelmed our staff. It was like they were doing nothing but handing out cards to people walking through the door."
A health impact report from FamilyWize showed 1,068 users in the Garland County community have saved $102,945 on 7,142 prescriptions, more than 14 percent per prescription. The partnership's impact decreased after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Browning said more residents can now afford coverage and benefit less from using the cards.
Browning said the card is a beneficial tool for senior citizens on Medicare.
"The Affordable Care Act has helped a lot of people, but most senior citizens are still in a box with this thing," Browning said. "So it is especially good for senior citizens, but anyone who is uninsured, any citizen, can use it."
Demographics for the usage of FamilyWize cards is somewhat evenly distributed across all age groups 25 and older. Citizens 25-44 years of age make up the largest percentage, 34 percent, of "impact" nationwide.
Thirty percent of FamilyWize's total impact has been felt by those 45-64 years of age. Citizens 65 and older received 21 percent of the overall impact. Users 18-24 and 17 and under make up the smallest percentages, 6 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
"Affordable health care (act) is great, but it did not solve every problem," Browning said. "This is just something everybody can use."
All Food and Drug Administration-approved brand and generic prescription medications are covered. Cards can also be used for "human" medications prescribed by a veterinarian for pets. Mail-order prescription service is not provided by the cards.
The program can be used to obtain savings on prescription drugs that are excluded by insurance plans or when limits have been reached on existing coverage. Users who are reimbursed for their prescription costs can lower their out-of-pocket expenses by using the card.
Customers pay the lowest price, whether it is the discounted price through FamilyWize or the pharmacy's usual retail price. The user is responsible for the entire payment after discounts are applied. The card cannot lower the copay for medicine covered by insurance.
More than two dozen pharmacies in Garland County participate in the FamilyWize network, including all three Wal-Mart stores, all five Walgreens locations, the three Kroger pharmacies and both Harps Food Stores.
Pharmacies are encouraged to participate because of benefits provided by the partnership. FamilyWize and United Way direct customers to participating stores, users can fill more prescriptions due to increased savings and customers may purchase additional items when they pick up their prescriptions.
All funding for the program is provided by part of the dispensing fee included in the cost of medicine when a card is used.
Consumers can also download a card from FamilyWize.org, call 800-222-2818 to request a card be sent to them, or download the free FamilyWize mobile application.
FamilyWize offers a Drug Price Lookup Tool online to compare prescription medication prices and find the local pharmacy with the lowest price. Consumers can access the tool on the website or through the app.
Local on 08/16/2015