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Dougherty OKs health card plan

• Dougherty County Commissioners approve a plan to provide discount prescription cards in the county.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — The Dougherty County Commission passed legislation Monday that may ease the health care burden of uninsured and underinsured residents in the county.

The commission unanimously approved a resolution calling for an agreement with CaremarkPCS Health through the National Association of Counties that will provide discount prescription drug cards to qualifying citizens throughout the county. Once the program is in place, citizens may pick up cost-free cards at specified locations and use them to receive an average 20 percent discount on prescription medication.

“Is this program for all of Dougherty County?” Commissioner Jack Stone asked before the commission vote.

“This program will be for the uninsured and the underinsured in the county,” County Administrator Richard Crowdis said.

“The way things are going, we may come under that soon,” Stone quipped.

Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard appealed to media members to get the word out about the free discount cards.

“Dougherty County citizens need to know about this program,” Sinyard said.

Information from NACo membership coordinator Emily Landsman indicated that the discount cards will be available for distribution in the county eight to 10 weeks from the day the county signs a contract approving the program.

In other action at the brief business meeting, commissioners approved use of the temporary parking lot at the corner of Broad Avenue and Jackson Street by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce for its annual International Festival Oct. 4; voted to deny $5,000 in funding to defray travel expenses for the Albany Heat Basketball Club; approved a slight decrease in the tax millage rate (0.003 percent) to account for an increase in tax funds; and OK’d a resolution amending the Public Employees Group Health Plan.

“I missed the last work session, so what did we decide on the discount percentage and having to use specific doctors?” Stone asked.

“This is not the health care issue you’re thinking about,” Crowdis replied. “This is basically for city, county and WG&L (Water, Gas & Light Commission) to go their separate ways (yet remain in the group plan).”

Sinyard gave commissioners an update on the recent sale of the ThermaCare product line that is manufactured at the Albany Procter & Gamble plant.

“We’re blessed and excited that (purchaser Wyeth Consumer Healthcare) will continue to make the product at our plant,” Sinyard said. “This is an example of the pro-business environment in our community.”

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