Courtesy OxfordMS.net
The city of Oxford encourages more participation in a program that can save citizens money on prescription drugs regardless of their health coverage.
Al Hope, the city director of human resources, said the Prescription Discount Card program is a way for the city to help those who are in need of certain drugs not covered by a health plan.
“There are many people who may not have insurance, or insurance may not cover certain types of drugs,” Hope said.
In 2010, Oxford joined the National League of Cities, which allowed it to distribute cards to citizens in order to help them save money on their prescription drugs.
The program was brought up during a Board of Aldermen meeting and was considered a service to the citizens that needed to be spearheaded, since many other cities are already engaged in this program, Hope said.
“The Board of Aldermen directed the human resource department to do this,” Hope said. “To enroll in the program, make sure that the information is out there and make sure the cards are available for citizens.”
Hope said there was a immediate positive outcome once the program started.
“Since 2010 I think about 8 thousand dollars is what people have saved so far,” he said.
Hope said the city decided to participate in the National League of Cities because it would benefit the citizens of Oxford.
“A city is an entity that serves the citizens of the city,” Hope said. “That’s our sole responsibility.”
Hope said presently the program is being promoted on the city’s website, but is looking for more ways to publicize this service to help increase the numbers of participants after participation dropped following 2012.
“I wish the numbers were higher,” Hope said. “I think annually we will at some point push some advertisement out there again to promote it and keep the citizens aware of it.”
Cards in both English and Spanish are available at City Hall for citizens to pick up, Hope said.
“Participate if you need it. Come and get the card, it will benefit you,” Hope said. “You can save up to 30 percent of your drug costs by using this card.”
Hope encourages insured citizens of Oxford to still come by City Hall and pick up cards to help the city distribute them to those who may need them.
“Even if you have drug coverage, come and get the card anyway,” he said. “Come and get some cards and take them to your church.”
Junior pharmacy major Jamie Hill said he is happy to see the city participating in the program.
“I think that it’s good for the city to offer people that cannot pay for their prescriptions through another policy,” he said.
Hill said it is important for citizens to take advantage of the program that the city has to offer because prescription drug expenses can be daunting.
“Citizens need to take advantage of the program because drugs are getting more and more expensive from the manufacturers, so pharmacies are having to charge more,” Hill said.
Mayor Pat Patterson said the program is just one example of how the city is trying to better the quality of life for its citizens.
“The City of Oxford is continually looking at ways to mitigate the cost of medical care for its staff and citizens,” Patterson said.
Hope expressed interested in revamping this program and to provide more assistance to those who are in need of it and will continually look for more ways to help Oxford’s citizens.
“Anything that we can do to incorporate any type of program, services and activities that the citizens may need, we are supposed to be aggressive in getting that done,” he said.
For more information on obtaining a Prescription Discount Card, visit www.oxfordms.net.
