New York State budget to include discount Rx cards

ALBANY, N.Y. As part of the state budget being completed this week, the New York government is implementing new pharmacy cards that will provide a discount on brand and generic drugs, according to Newsday.

The card offers discounts of 30 percent off brands and 60 percent off generic drugs. People who are eligible for the program must meet certain income qualifications and fall into the age range of 50 to 64, without insurance or disabled.

The program will achieve the savings by leveraging mass buying power to get rebates and discounts for the eligible group estimated at 400,000 people. The program is planned to begin next year.

The health care budget also includes:

• $25 million to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program to insure children in moderate income families. This will help provide preventive and primary medical care to more of the 400,000 uninsured children statewide.
• Beefing up Medicaid fraud investigations to recover misappropriated funds.