GOVERNOR CRIST CELEBRATES NEARLY $5 MILLION IN PRESCRIPTION-DRUG SAVINGS ON 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF FLORIDA DISCOUNT DRUG CARD
~~ ~More than 122,700 Floridians have signed up for the Florida Discount Drug Card ~ ~~
December 21, 2009
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE – In celebration of the second anniversary of the Florida Discount Drug Card, Governor Charlie Crist today announced 122,794 Floridians have signed up for the Florida Discount Drug Card since its launch on December 20, 2007. Currently, 4,397 retail pharmacies accept the Florida Discount Drug Card, saving members $4.95 million in prescription-drug costs.
“At a time when all Floridians are trying to stretch their hard-earned dollars, the Florida Discount Drug Card has proven to be a low-cost solution for families and seniors in need of affordable prescription drugs,” said Governor Crist. “I encourage all Floridians seeking relief from rising health care costs to learn more about the Florida Discount Drug Card and the many other successful steps Florida has taken to improve access to health care.”
No tax dollars are needed to make the Florida Discount Drug Card available. A public-private partnership makes the discounts possible. Pharmacy benefits manager Envision Pharmaceutical Services secures volume discounts on prescription drugs. Participating pharmacies must agree to the negotiated prices. The savings are then passed on to consumers.
Enrollment and Eligibility
To enroll in the program, applicants who do not have prescription drug coverage must provide their name and contact information as well as information about family members. Individuals qualify for the card if they are age 60 and older and do not have prescription drug coverage, and may qualify if they are in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage gap. Individuals, families and seniors under age 60 may be eligible if they have an annual income of less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and do not have prescription drug coverage. Qualifying annual incomes for individuals under 60 are up to $32,490 for an individual, $43,710 for a family of two and $66,150 for a family of four. Income limits for other family sizes are available on the Web site, www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com.
There is no application fee for the Florida Discount Drug Card; however, there is a one time $1.50 activation fee added onto the cost of the first prescription and a $1.50 dispensing fee which is already included in the posted price of all prescriptions. If the pharmacy’s usual and customary price is lower than the Florida Discount Drug price, the customer will pay the lower price. Additionally, if the customer qualifies for any other prescription discounts, they will always pay the lowest price.
To apply for the Florida Discount Drug Card, visit www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com and complete an online application or enroll over the phone by calling 1-866-341-8894 or TTY 1-866-763-9630. Information on the Web site and over the phone is available in both English and Spanish.
Additional Health Care Benefits for Floridians
Other partnerships with the private sector have also provided health care benefits for Floridians in the form of Cover Florida Health Care and the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network.
Cover Florida Health Care
Cover Florida Health Care offers affordable, quality health insurance coverage and access to uninsured Floridians age 19 to 64. In its first 11 months of availability, more than 5,200 Floridians have enrolled in Cover Florida Health Care. Approximately 82 percent of enrollees have chosen catastrophic coverage, and 18 percent have chosen preventive coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and United Healthcare are available in all 67 Florida counties with additional insurers available in Broward, Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Flagler counties. Each plan has a robust set of benefit options that include coverage for preventive services, screenings, office visits, as well as office surgery, urgent care, hospital coverage, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, and diabetic supplies.
For more information about Cover Florida, visit www.CoverFloridaHealthCare.com.
Florida Medicaid Health Information Network
The Florida Medicaid Health Information Network is improving the quality of health care for Florida’s Medicaid recipients by allowing Medicaid providers real-time access to health information on their Medicaid patients. Medicaid recipients authorize access to the information and can revoke that permission later if they choose. The program helps health care providers make better-informed decisions about their patients by providing access to up to 18 months of Medicaid claims history. Florida is the first state in the nation to make this information available to its Medicaid providers at no cost.
Created without cost to Florida’s taxpayers, the information network is made available via a secure portal through a partnership with the private sector. Available information includes Medicaid claims data about office visits and hospitalizations, diagnoses, procedures, and medication and medical exam history. Similar records from other payers may also be accessed. This innovation equips health care professionals with more complete information at the time of service, helps improve coordination by avoiding duplication of tests and encourages preventive care.
For more information, visit www.fhin.net and click on the Florida Medicaid Health Information Network link.