Card Helps Local residents Save $675,000

Hamilton County residents have saved more than $675,000 with a discount card for prescription drugs that we introduced in January 2009.

That is a pretty hefty amount.

Yet, we are seeing usage drop. The card has been used to make more than 28,000 purchases since its inception. However, where we once had more than 800 users a month, now we are down to about half that.

It could be more people are insured and their prescriptions are covered. That would be a good thing. Still, I want to tell as many as possible about this great program.

The prescription drug discount cards are available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). There is no cost to the taxpayer for the program.

The cards may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, and are accepted at most pharmacies throughout the county. More than 1,000 counties throughout the country participate in the program and a national network of more than 59,000 participating retail pharmacies will honor the NACo prescription discount card.

Among those who benefit from the program: 

• County residents who are uninsured.
• County residents who are insured but a drug may not be covered on their insurance plan. 
• County residents who must buy human drugs for their pets. 

The cards were originally at branches of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, YMCA branches, the Council on Aging of Southwest Ohio and many social service agencies, such as the FreeStore Foodbank and Talbert House. If you cannot find them feel free to call us at 946-1010 for a card. You can also visit www.HamiltonCountyRx.com for more information.

 

 

 

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State Surpasses Benchmark in Work Participation

Ohio has surpassed the 50 percent mark in work participation in the Ohio Works First program for the first time since 2007. This could help the state avoid $135 million in penalties from the federal government.

This is something worth celebrating because the penalties would be crippling. But there is still a long way to go.

Requiring work of cash assistance recipients is a stipulation of the nation’s overhaul of its welfare system back in 1996. State’s are required to have 50 percent of all families and 90 percent of two-parent families working or face financial penalties.

Ohio currently falls well short of the 90 percent mark for two-parent families, so it is still at risk of losing crucial dollars that are used to administer programs for needy families.   

Hamilton County remains the best major metropolitan county in both categories at 58 percent for the all-family rate and 69 percent for the two-parent rate. But, we too are falling short in the two-parent category.

I pledge that we take this very seriously and will keep at it. We have made this a focus over the past year and our success has vaulted us to the forefront of large counties. But there is still much work to do.

SuperJobs Center Helping Local Businesses with Training

Jump-starting the economy is big news as we head into November. We are doing our part here at Job and Family Services. Check out this column I wrote for our community newsletter, Update. While you are there, read about some of the other things we have happening at JFS.

 

http://www.hcjfs.hamilton-co.org/UpdateNew2012/September/Cover.htm