Ohio Department of Aging
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2006
COLUMBUS - The Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program saved older Ohioans and other eligible adults with disabilities $10.3 million on prescription drug purchases in its third year of operation, according to the program's third annual report, released last week by the Ohio Department of Aging. This figure includes savings achieved through the program's Special Assistance Program, available to certain eligible cardholders. The report covers the period from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2006.
"Today, more than 2.5 million Ohioans have received the familiar Golden Buckeye card and can use it to save not only at pharmacies, but also at more than 20,000 merchants statewide," said Barbara E. Riley, Director of the Department of Aging. "We are proud to continue our more than three-decade legacy of partnering with businesses to help our older neighbors."
Each month, the Golden Buckeye program mails an average of 11,000 free cards to Ohioans near their 60th birthdays (as determined by records from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles). Nearly 130,000 cards were mailed during the 2006 program year.
The Golden Buckeye program, through a benefits manager (Cleveland-based MemberHealth), negotiates prices with manufacturers and pharmacies and passes the savings on to cardholders. Cardholders are guaranteed the Golden Buckeye price or the pharmacy sale price, whichever is lower. The Golden Buckeye price is lower nearly three out of four times. Cardholders have saved $42.3 million since the program began in 2003.
Recent legislation will merge the Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program with Ohio's Best Rx, the state's other prescription savings program for seniors and low-income Ohioans. The merger, effective July 1, 2007, will bring better savings and efficiencies to participants of both programs. The combined program will be administered by the Department of Aging. While they will be issued a new Ohio's Best Rx card for prescription drugs, cardholders will continue to be able to use their Golden Buckeye card to save on general merchandise and services at participating merchants.
Download and read the Golden Buckeye Prescription Drug Savings Program Annual Report…
About ODA
The Ohio Department of Aging serves and represents two million Ohioans age 60 and older. The Department advocates for the needs of all older citizens, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for older Ohioans, helping them live active, healthy and independent lives, and promoting positive attitudes toward aging and older people. The Department provides services to older Ohioans through 12 area agencies on aging, home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman and the Golden Buckeye Card. For more information, visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.
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Ohio Department of Aging