Christia Emory of Atlanta has diabetes, kidney disease and other medical conditions. Lacking health insurance, she often runs up high medical bills.
But Emory says a drug discount card gives her "a little bit of help" --- saving her about $200 a month in prescription costs.
The card that Emory holds, Together Rx Access, got a visibility boost Thursday when Gov. Sonny Perdue joined a news conference promoting the free card for Georgians who have no drug coverage.
"High prescription drug costs have forced some tough choices on Georgia's families," Perdue said. The Together Rx card is a creative, private-sector solution that offers savings to the uninsured, he said.
While Perdue and other card supporters tout the Together Rx savings, pharmacists and consumer advocates said discounts from such cards can vary widely, depending on the drug and pharmacy used. Pharmacists said such cards cut into their profits, not the drug makers'. And a less-expensive alternative or generic drug might be the best deal in some cases, experts said.
Whatever the price break, experts warn that people should not relinquish Medicare Part D --- the federal insurance program's drug benefit --- or other government or private coverage to switch to a discount card. "It's not a substitute for insurance," said Marc Steinberg of Families USA, a consumer advocacy group.
The Together Rx Access program, created by major drug companies, offers savings on more than 300 brand-name pharmaceuticals and some generics. Only people without prescription insurance are eligible.
About 60,000 Georgians have the Together Rx card, and most cardholders can save 25 percent to 40 percent on drugs, Together Rx said.
"This program recognizes our national health care crisis" of 47 million uninsured, said Roba Whiteley, executive director of Together Rx Access. "It makes great sense for people to be a smart consumer, give themselves a break and get the card.''
Steinberg agreed that drug discount cards could defray some costs. "For people without insurance, every little bit helps," he said, though he added, "I think there's often an element of P.R. behind them.''
Consumers with a discount card should still ask about less-expensive generic drugs and other alternatives, experts said. Shopping around "may save them more and provide better value," said Gail Shearer, director of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs. Some pharmacies may not accept the discount card.
An estimated 1.6 million Georgians, including about 320,000 children, are uninsured. Others may have medical insurance but no drug coverage.
The uninsured face the brunt of rising prescription costs. The average price of brand-name drugs rose 7.4 percent last year, according to Express Scripts, a drug benefit management company.
A few pharmaceuticals have jumped more than 100 percent in price, researchers from the University of Minnesota said.
"Some of these drugs are so expensive, you wouldn't believe it,'' said Emory, 40, who takes nine prescriptions.
Such patients are better off with a discount card than nothing, says Jeff Lurey, a Georgia Pharmacy Association official.
But Lurey says it's difficult to determine the cards' savings. "Generally, with all discount cards, the discount comes out of the hide of the pharmacist," Lurey said. Discount cards generally don't cut into drug manufacturers' profits, he said.
Other avenues for uninsured poor patients include drug makers' patient-assistance programs, which offer free or low-cost pharmaceuticals for people with low incomes.
A Georgia nonprofit offers a card for free drugs for people who have low incomes. The Georgia Partnership for Caring Foundation, which helps the state's uninsured find medical services, covers about 100 drugs through its card.
Large retailers offering $4 prescriptions for generic drugs also provide help for consumers, said Tom Underwood, executive director of the Georgia Partnership.
Meanwhile, a state program created to recycle unused drugs --- approved by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006 --- has gone nowhere. The law would distribute unused packaged pharmaceuticals from hospices, personal care homes and nursing homes to the indigent. Those medications have been discarded when a patient dies.
Georgia's recycling program remains "in the design stages," said Matia Edwards, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Health.
"All efforts are being made to identify a solution that can safely and appropriately reuse these eligible medications," she said.
TOGETHER RX ACCESS
An applicant for the free discount card must:
1. Not be eligible for Medicare.
2. Have no prescription drug coverage of any kind.
3. Have a household income equal or less than
$30,000 for a single person.
$40,000 for a family of two.
$50,000 for a family of three.
$60,000 for a family of four.
$70,000 for a family of five.
4. Be a legal U.S. resident.
For more information, visit TogetherRxAccess.com or call 1-800-979-3569.
Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution