The City launched its first official prescription drug discount card one year ago.<\/p>\n
New York, NY \u2013 In May 2011, New York City released its first official prescription drug discount card, BigAppleRx. Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Health Department Commissioner Thomas Farley announced that since its debut, the BigAppleRx card saved more than 56,500 New Yorkers a total of $6 million on prescription medications, for an overall savings of 47%. The BigAppleRx card is free of charge, available to anyone regardless of age, income, citizenship or health insurance status and accepted at more than 2,000 city pharmacies, including Target, Duane Reade, Walgreens and CVS.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth care is a growing cost for New Yorkers and it\u2019s up to the government and our partners to find innovative solutions to this problem \u2013 BigAppleRx is one of them,\u201d said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cTo me, these numbers represent that we\u2019ve been able to provide a little peace of mind for people burdened by the expense of prescription drugs. No one should have to forgo necessary medication because it\u2019s too costly, and with more and more New Yorkers armed with this card, fewer will have to choose between saving their health and saving their money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHundreds of thousands of New Yorkers need to take medicines for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma,\u201d said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley. \u201cThe BigAppleRx prescription drug discount card is one way we can help New Yorkers afford these medicines so they can avoid the consequences of these conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe incredible benefit BigAppleRx has brought to over 56,000 New Yorkers is cause for celebration and a great example of what is possible when government and industry work in tandem to address the challenges faced by New Yorkers,\u201d said Council Health Committee Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program is taking a big bite out of prescription drug costs in the Big Apple. As Chair of the City Council Aging Committee, I\u2019m especially pleased that this card has helped seniors save money,\u201d said Council Aging Committee Chair Jessica Lappin.<\/p>\n
New Yorkers saved 63% on generic prescription drugs and 18% on name brand prescription drugs. A total of 155,850 claims were discounted through BigAppleRx. The thousands of New Yorkers using the card have seen an average annual savings of $295 per household.<\/p>\n
People can easily download and print the card by visiting www.bigapplerx.com or by downloading the iPhone or Android app and presenting the card to pharmacists right from their phone.<\/p>\n
For more information on how to get the BigAppleRx card or locate participating pharmacies, visit www.bigapplerx.com or call 311.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The City launched its first official prescription drug discount card one year ago.<\/p>\n
New York, NY \u2013 In May 2011, New York City released its first official prescription drug discount card, BigAppleRx. Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Health Department Commissioner Thomas Farley announced that since its debut, the BigAppleRx card saved more than 56,500 New Yorkers a total of $6 million on prescription medications, for an overall savings of 47%.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n