HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania today became the 22nd state where people can get a free prescription drug card that will provide an average savings of 30 percent on medicine.
Funded by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, the discounts will help 800,000 Pennsylvanians without health insurance in a difficult economy, said Thomas J. Shaw, program director for the Pennsylvania Drug Card.
Anyone can get the card, he said.
"There are no restrictions to membership, no income requirements, no age limit and no applications to fill out," Shaw said.
The card, available at www.padrugcard.com, offers discounts of up to 75 percent.
"We encourage all residents to take advantage of the opportunity to help offset the rising prices of prescription drugs purchased in Pennsylvania," said former Gov. Mark Schweiker, now CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Schweiker backed the plan Wednesday in Philadelphia. Shaw made an announcement Thursday in the state Capitol Rotunda.
California, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Colorado and Virginia are among states offering the card, according to Shaw.
All drugs are included, he said.
"There is medicine manufactured that is not sold," said William H. Gutches, the program's pharmacy business development director, when asked why drug companies would do this.
That doesn't mean companies are selling drugs near or over the expiration dates, Gutches and Shaw stressed.
"On the face of it, it looks great," said Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell.
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