Commission to consider drug discount cards for Lyon residents

Lyon County residents without prescription drug insurance could get discounts if the commissioners approve a proposal from the National Association of Counties and an insurance company.

Edrie LaVoie, Lyon County Human Services director, said the effort won't cost county taxpayers anything and could help thousands of Lyon County residents.

"We (the county) enter into a contract with the National NACO, who has entered into a contract with Caremark," she explained. "Caremark publishes the discount cards and negotiates discounts with pharmacies."

The issue will be decided at the Lyon County Commission meeting Thursday.

Jeff Fontaine, director of the Nevada Association of Counties, the local arm of the National Association of Counties, told the commissioners last month about the program, which has more than 900 counties nationwide participating. Eleven of those counties are in Nevada, he said.

Fontaine reports the cost savings to consumers has been between 13 percent to 34 percent of the prescription cost. There will be no charge for the discount cards.

He said the cards cannot be used in conjunction with other prescription drug insurance, but can be used to purchase medications not covered by insurance, or by those who have no insurance.

LaVoie said that if the program is approved by the commissioners at their meeting on Thursday, the cards will be available at the Lyon County Human Service offices in Dayton, Fernley, Silver Springs and Yerington, as well as at the county's pharmacies; Scolari's in Fernley and Yerington, Bob Tucker's Drug Store in Fernley, Rex Drugs in Yerington, and Smith's in Dayton.

"They can use them out of county also, if they have a card they can use it at a participating pharmacy in Carson City," she said.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.

If You Go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: 463-6531

More info

For more information on Lyon County prescription discount cards, call Lyon County Human Services at 577-5009.