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March 12, 2004

United Methodists offered prescription discount benefits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- Responding to the escalating cost of prescription drugs, the United Methodist Church has begun making a drug benefit available to all 8.3 million of its U.S. members.

Through a partnership with prescription drug and health supply discounter DestinationRx, the denomination is offering a free card that gives discounts of up to 65 percent on most prescription drugs and other supplies, such as contact lenses, vitamins and drugs for pets.

The benefit is available to all United Methodist Church members, regardless of their insurance coverage, income or health status. The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries, an organization of the denomination's health care organizations, announced the benefit at a national conference March 4-7 in Nashville.

The United Methodist Church is the nation's second largest Protestant denomination. With an average age of 57, its members are among the oldest of any denomination in the United States.

Forty million Americans have little or no prescription drug insurance. This benefit is meant especially for them, said the Rev. Mearle Griffith, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton, Ohio-based association.

"We have many people falling through the cracks," he said. "They're choosing between taking all of the drugs they need and groceries."

The announcement comes during an election year when the cost of prescription drugs will be a decisive issue. The United Methodist Church is the first denomination to offer such a benefit, but Griffith has heard from other denominations, such as the United Church of Christ, Mennonite Church USA and the Roman Catholic Church, about offering a similar benefit.

He believes the nation's leaders have been too slow in addressing the issue.

"We think it's taken too long, and we're not going to wait around any longer," he said.

The benefit is the result of two years of research into how the denomination could help members, especially the working poor, afford medications. The denomination's missions arm, the Board of Global Ministries, took up the issue as a social justice cause, said Jane Ehrman, consultant to the board's Division of Health and Welfare.

DestinationRx, founded in 1998 and based in Los Angeles, has contracts with 25,000 pharmacies across the country, including Eckerd's, Kmart and Target, to offer discounted prescription drugs and health supplies to employers, unions, and other organizations and individuals. It was selected to offer health cost information and software to the federal government under the Medicare reform bill signed in December.

The denomination struck a deal with DestinationRx two weeks ago and began offering the cards immediately. United Methodists can obtain the cards by calling 800-379-9040 and referring to the United Methodist Association. The company has a Web site, at destinationrx.com, but Senior Vice President Dan Jadosh said to call the toll-free number first to get their membership information before going into the Web site.

The United Methodist Association is promoting the benefit among the church leadership and member health and welfare providers, and it will discuss the benefit at the denomination's top legislative gathering, the General Conference, April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh. Griffith hopes that as word spreads, congregations and youth groups will use the cards in their outreach to the poor.

"This is a natural extension of our commitment to health," he said. "It's our passion to help the poor and needy."

DestinationRx joined with the denomination to offer the benefit for similar reasons, Jadosh said.

"It's not a situation that's an end-all to fixing the problem, but it will provide help at least," he said.

Julie Wernz, a United Methodist Association member from Baltimore, knows firsthand how much people pay for their prescriptions. She is an employee of a company that processes insurance claims. She believes people deserve help.

"Somebody's got to do it and look out for the seniors," she said.

Bill Deswick, a United Methodist Association member from Pontiac, Ill., applauded the denomination for stepping into the debate.

"Prescription drugs have been for years the highest-priced part of getting well," he said. "This provides a good opportunity to get involved in something that will really help our members."

More information is also available from the United Methodist Association at 937-227-9494.  

Prescription Savings Card Program: Questions and Answers 

From the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries

The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries has announced that United Methodists can obtain a free prescription savings card through a partnership with DestinationRx, a prescription benefit management company based in Los Angeles. The program was developed after a two-year study by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. The savings card is not an insurance product.

Here are some questions and answers regarding the program.

Q: What is being offered?

A: The program offers a savings card that allows users to purchase prescriptions and other health care supplies at discounted prices.

Most prescription medications are covered in the DestinationRx Prescription Program through its network of participating pharmacies. In addition, DestinationRx provides prescription savings through a toll-free telephone number for maintenance medications and savings through its Web site on traditional drugs, including pet medications, vitamins/minerals, over-the-counter medications and vision care.

Q: Who is offering it?

A: DestinationRx and the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries are making the program available.

Q: Who is eligible for the benefits? Does one have to be a member of The United Methodist Church?

A: Any member of The United Methodist Church may obtain the card at no membership cost.

Q: Can the card be used with traditional prescription coverage?

A: The DestinationRx program cannot be used in conjunction with a traditional prescription program. However, the DestinationRx program provides savings to the member for non-covered items that may not be part of a traditional prescription program, such as birth control, smoking cessation, cosmetic and fertility products, and anti-obesity medications. In addition, the DestinationRx program can be used by individuals who have deductibles, maximums and major medical programs.

Q: Does the local church have to do anything in order for a member to enroll?

A: All the administration will be performed by DestinationRx.

Q: How do you obtain the card?

A: Cards may be ordered by calling DestinationRx at (800) 379-9040. Indicate that you received the invitation to apply for the card from the United Methodist Association and give the Group Number: UMA999. DestinationRx also has a Web site, but United Methodists need to obtain a permanent membership ID and prescription card prior to proceeding to the Web site.

Q: When will the card be delivered?

A: The card will be delivered within seven to 10 business days.

Q: Does each member of the household need an individual card?

A: One DestinationRx Savings ID card is good for all family members residing at the same address with the same last name.

Q: How does DestinationRx determine whether someone who calls for the card is a United Methodist?

A: The member contacting DestinationRx should mention that they are part of the United Methodist family. At the direction of the United Methodist Association, DestinationRx is not performing any verification of church membership.

Q: Where can I obtain more information online?

A: More information is available by going to www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=3647 on The United Methodist Church's Web site. DestinationRx is also developing a site for United Methodist participants; details will be available soon.

Q: How many pharmacies are participating? What are some of the better-known stores?

A: More than 25,000 pharmacies across the United States are participating, including those at Eckerd's, Kmart and Target stores.

Q: What kind of discounts does the card provide?

A: Savings vary based upon where one obtains medication. However, savings can range up to 25 percent on brand medications and up to 50 percent on generic drugs. Those savings are based on typical pharmacy prices at a retail drugstore.

Q: What range of products does the card cover?

A: The DestinationRx card covers most prescription drugs. In addition, on the DestinationRx Web site, the card covers items such as pet prescriptions, contact lenses, over-the-counter medications and vitamins/minerals.

Q: Does it cost the cardholder anything?

A: There is no membership cost to United Methodist members.

Q: How much is this plan costing The United Methodist Church?

A: There is no cost to The United Methodist Church or the United Methodist Association.

Q: How was this program developed? What roles did the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Association play?

A: Both the General Board of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Association have been researching ways to help reduce the financial burden of drug prescriptions for United Methodist members throughout the United States.

Q: What is the United Methodist Association?

A: The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries Inc., based in Dayton, Ohio, is a network of about 400 health and human services organizations. It was founded in 1940 as the Board of Hospitals and Homes of the Methodist Church. The organization is now an independent, not-for-profit corporation, and is identified as a "covenanting body" by the denomination's General Conference. That status is noted in the church's 2000 Book of Discipline.

Q: What is the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries?

A: The Board of Global Ministries, with offices in New York, is the missions agency of The United Methodist Church. The board's health and relief unit worked on arranging the drug-benefit card program for United Methodists following a two-year study.

Q: What is DestinationRx? Who founded it and how long has it been in business? What kind of record does it have?

A: DestinationRx is a privately owned company based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1999 as a Web-based aggregator of prescription medications. "They have an outstanding record," said Jane Ehrman, health consultant for the Board of Global Ministries. During the two-year study, she looked at other providers in the industry and talked to clients of DestinationRx, and determined that the company had a high level of integrity, communications and service.

Q: Why would DestinationRx offer this free service to the United Methodists?

A: The DestinationRx Savings Program is funded through its contractual relationships with participating pharmacies and drug manufacturers.

Q: How much would DestinationRx usually charge for such a card?

A: DestinationRx has charged $9.95 for this same benefit as a one-time fee. Similar programs without the added benefits of Web-based savings have charged anywhere from $90 to $120 a year.

Q: Is the church offering these benefits or is DestinationRx?

A: DestinationRx is providing the benefit, not The United Methodist Church.

Q: Are the United Methodist General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and the General Council on Finance and Administration involved in the plan?

A: No 

Q: Where can I get more information about the program?

A. Call DestinationRx at (800) 379-9040. You can also contact the United Methodist Association in Dayton, Ohio, at (937) 227-9494.

As a service to inquiring church members, this article was compiled and distributed by United Methodist Communications with information provided by DestinationRx and the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries.

NOTE: This prescription savings card is not connected to The United Methodist Church's health benefits program.

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