Published: June 30, 2009 09:36 pm      

County extends savings to area residents

Commissioners vote to place prescription savings cards at various locations

The Henderson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to place prescription discount card at different locations in the county.

Beginning July 1, citizens are invited to pick up the cards at 22 locations and save money on prescription drugs.

The NACo card, sponsored by the National Association of Counties, will save consumers an average of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. There are 11 pharmacies in the county already accepting the cards.

Henderson County Treasurer Michael Bynum said the county has 10,000 of the cards available for the first distribution.

“Several other counties have participated in the program,” Bynum said. “I’ve talked with Smith County and it’s going well there.”

Citizens with other forms of coverage can use the card for prescriptions not included in their program or if the county card offers a greater savings. However, they can’t use both cards to pay for the same prescription, Bynum said.

“There’s no application to fill out. There’s no fee. They just take the card and use it at the pharmacies that are accepting it,” Bynum said.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney said the county is eligible for the program because of its membership in the National Association of Counties.

“We’re proud to be one of the counties nationwide participating in NACo,” Henderson County Judge David Holstein said. “The card offers significant savings for the uninsured and underinsured residents in the county.”

Bynum said residents can call his office at 903-675-6119 with questions about the program.

Citizens can pick up a card at the following locations:

• the Henderson County Courthouse, Athens;

• the Chandler Annex, Chandler;

• the West End Courthouse, Seven Points;

• the Henderson County Judicial Complex, Athens;

• the Henderson County Justice Center, Athens;

• Henderson County Tax Office, Athens;

• the Henderson County Senior Citizens Center, Athens;

• all Henderson County Road and Bridge Offices and

• all Henderson County Justice of the Peace offices.

In other action, Commissioners:

• accepted a $20,000 donation from developer Rodney Hull to pay for the cost of fuel and road materials for Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence to repair a road in the Fargo Estates Subdivsion;

• set a weight limit of 40,000 pounds for loads on County Road 2827 in Precinct 2 and

• authorized payment of bills in the amount of $388,715.