Georgia Drug Card Media Center

Georgia Drug Card, powered by United Networks of America, attends #ChildrensHospitalsWeek2019 to meet the CMN Champions and their families! Each time you use the Georgia Drug Card to save on your prescription medication, a donation is made to your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to help children, like Logan, receive essential care and services.

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United Networks of America is one of the largest providers of value added managed care products and services in the United States. Since 1993, United Networks of America has continued to grow its network to more than 240,000 participating providers serving more than 120.1 million members across the United States of America, Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands. The diverse membership base is a testament to the versatility and value of those networks. United Networks of America clients include TPA’s, insurance companies, associations, universities, federal and state governments, school systems, large employers, among others. Each year, United Networks of America programs continue to receive the highest rankings in the country among value added programs. For more information on United Networks of America please click here

Dr. Harkins with the GI Specialists of Georgia discusses colon health and why colonoscopies are still the gold standard for screening. The Georgia Drug Card is their preferred card to help patients with costly prescriptions.

Georgia Drug Card is the only program that partners with the Medical Association of Georgia and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Top Surgeon and Physician Dr. McNeel discusses women’s skin care, prescription savings and our support of Children’s Miracle Network.

Georgia Drug Card partners with The Center of Allergy and Asthma for National Women’s Health Week. Dr Kharod shares that using sublingual allergy drops can be more time efficient for busy women needing allergy treatments.

Premier Care Family Medicine's Josette Etienne NP stresses women's screenings and using the Georgia drug card for prescription savings.

(Albany, GA) – As the American population ages, the cost of healthcare has skyrocketed. The cost of prescription drugs rose by an average of 11 per cent per year between 1996 and 2008. Kemberley Floyd has been a pharmacist for about five years. She's noticed the trend as well. She said, "they have probably more than doubled, if not tripled."

And for people whose health depend on monthly medications, tough decisions must be made.

Dr. Jaza Marina Brown from the South Albany Medical Center said, "oftentimes people have to make quick decisions...is it going to be my mortgage, my rent or the medication for my diabetes."

People like Sonia Coxwell."There's medication that I take for migraine headaches," she said. That medicine is not cheap."For like nine tablets is a little over $200," she said.

Even though she has insurance, it didn't cover the entire cost. And all over Georgia there are thousands of people who don't even have insurance, especially in rural areas. But while the costs of prescriptions can cause financial hardship, there are ways that you can save the next time that you come to the pharmacy. Coxwell's solution was to sign up for what's known as the 340-B drug program. It's available to anyone who goes to a community health care clinic. And it's taken a bite out of those high drug bills. "With my medication it cuts it in half," she said.

It's one of several programs that can help to save some money on prescriptions. Another one is known as the Georgia Drug Card. Like the 340-B program everyone is eligible, regardless of insurance coverage or income. Floyd has noticed that both programs have a definite effect on her patients. Where they used to skip a dose now and then: "now we have a patient that can walk in the door with a 30 day supply, get all 30 tablets, take them on a daily basis," she said.

Making sure that patients follow their doctor's orders when it comes to their medicines is the best way to make sure that they truly get healed from what ails them. And if they do that, then there will be a brighter future for them and their loved ones.

If you want to sign up for the Georgia Drug Card, you can go to their web site.

Nearly 20 percent of all Georgians have no health insurance, and many don't have prescription drug coverage. But, a new card may help you get a break at the pharmacy. Health Watch reporter Beth Galvin dropped by Good Day Xtra to tell us all about it.