Good Medicine

Sojourners Magazine, Jul 2004 by Berger, Rose Marie, Bolton, Brian

HEALTH

The United Methodist Church has decided that its aging and medication-dependent denominational constituents can't wait until the fall presidential elections for relief from the high cost of prescription drugs. In a partnership with DestinationRx, an online service that offers savings cards redeemable at local pharmacies, the United Methodist Church now offers a prescription-drug discount card free of charge to all 8.3 million U.S. members. Each card offers discounts of up to 50 percent off regular prescription prices. Cardholders can purchase medications online or at one of 25,000 local pharmacies.

DestinationRx expects the volume of added customers to make up for the fee normally charged to enroll. "We had 30,000 people sign up in March alone," said Merle Griffith, CEO of the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries. "Many people are choosing between food and groceries. I know a couple that was regularly taking half of their prescribed doses, which cost $1,200 per month," Griffith told Sojourners. "The card is saving them $342."