SMETHPORT – McKean County residents will soon be able to obtain
prescription drugs at a lower cost.

On Tuesday, the county commissioners approved a resolution
paving the way for the county to enter into a managed pharmacy
benefit services agreement with the National Association of
Counties (NACo), which the county joined in December.

Under the agreement, the county’s uninsured and underinsured
residents will be able to obtain a discount drug card at no cost,
and use it to save an average of 20 percent off the full retail
cost of prescription drugs.

The program – through Caremark Inc. – was first introduced by
the commissioners in December; a similar plan has already been
enacted in neighboring Elk County. All told, there are 20 counties
in the NACo consortium taking part.

Commissioner John Egbert said the program will provide a “great
benefit” to county residents, adding while the average discount is
around 20 percent, it could go as high as 40 percent.

“Anybody can get a card, no matter their income,” Egbert
said.

Officials said there are no enrollment fees, forms to fill out
or age or average income requirements and no medical condition
restrictions. The entire family is also covered by just a single
card.

While the commissioners didn’t have the names of participating
pharmacies on hand, there are more than 57,000 participating
pharmacies nationwide in the program. An individual will apparently
be able to save on drugs either at a pharmacy or through the
mail.

County officials previously cautioned that the plan will not
provide insurance, just the ability to save on prescriptions. The
savings will vary depending on the drug and quantity of it
purchased. The plan can also be used when Medicare Part D doesn’t
cover a drug.

Cardholders can also apparently save on pet prescriptions, and
there is no restriction or limit on how many times a card can be
used.

Egbert said the cards will be available within eight to 10
weeks. Officials said further information on where to obtain the
cards will be available in the coming weeks.

In other news, Life and Independent for Today (LIFT) Executive
Director Bob Mecca was in attendance, asking the commissioners for
help in supporting the center.

Mecca said Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget calls for “serious cuts” in
centers for independent living across the state, and LIFT is no
exception. Mecca said the local chapter stands to lose about
$50,000 if Rendell’s budget is approved intact.

LIFT covers a six-county area, including McKean County. The
agency is located in St. Marys.

“We are asking for support from the commissioners to not allow
the cuts to go through,” Mecca said, requesting the panel contact
local state lawmakers about the situation.

Mecca said if the agency were to incur any loss of funding, it
would be forced to lay off one full-time and two part-time
employees. There are 11 people currently on the staff.

“Many cases come from McKean County,” Mecca said, noting about
300 consumers are helped by LIFT throughout its service area.

The commissioners agreed to help in any way possible.

Also, the commissioners approved a resolution requesting the
U.S. Congress amend necessary federal regulations to allow federal
participation for medical benefits to incarcerated individuals
until the time of their trial, conviction or sentencing.

As it stands, the federal government stops paying for an
individual’s medical insurance – Medicare, Medicaid or other
insurance – while they are being held in county jails and awaiting
trial. The medical costs of that person are then picked up by the
county while that individual is in jail.

Egbert said the counties are requesting the federal government
pick up the tab for those benefits until an individual is
officially convicted or sentenced, thus easing the burden on
taxpayers.

The commissioners also approved a $260,314 allocation of
Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) funding for various
projects across the county.