Maryland Rx Card Media Center

We’ve arrived at season of giving and what better way to celebrate than to give a gift to the patients of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. When you give to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals such as Johns Hopkins, you support various programs and special services as well as fund state-of-the-art treatment and equipment. Local Maryland Rx Card representative, Mindy Burgos, met with a presented a gift to Lindsay Kahler, Associate Director of Development for CMN at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, on Monday, November 8^th 2021. It is an honor to do our part in giving back to the local community through our partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

ABOUT UNITED NETWORKS OF AMERICA
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

(Kevin Taylor – sales representative for MDRx Card, Sasha Dutton – Assistant Director, Children’s Miracle Network and Allan Browder – Program Director for DCRx Card)

The DC Rx Card and the Maryland Rx Card teams volunteered during the 97.1 WASH-FM radiothon last week.

DC Program Director Allan Browder shared that he “had a wonderful time volunteering during a local Washington, DC radio stations Radio-Thon at Children’s National Hospital. The event raised over $12k that will go directly towards Children’s National Hospital!”

Thank you to the Maryland Rx Card, DC Rx Card and United Networks of America for continuing to make miracles happen for our hospitals!

“MedChi gets clarity on high deductible plans”

BALTIMORE, March 9, 2017 – MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, continues to work with Maryland Rx Card to create awareness and help Maryland residents obtain discount drug cards. Together, Maryland Rx Card and MedChi are working to educate all physicians, clinics, hospitals, county health departments and urgent care clinics throughout the State to distribute hard cards to anyone in need. This free prescription card is available online for everyone in Maryland by visiting http://www.medchi.org/MDRXcard and printing a card. Residents with no internet access can visit any Giant pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to process their prescription through the Maryland Rx Card.

Carmen Konert, Program Development Director, Maryland Rx Card, states “since its inception in 2010, the Maryland Rx Card has saved $97,258,644 in drug costs for uninsured and under insured Marylanders.” All Maryland residents are eligible to participate in the Maryland Rx Card program and there are no restrictions to membership or applications to fill out. The card is accepted at over 56,000 regional and national pharmacies. Under the Maryland Rx Card Program more than 200,000 Marylanders have received a free prescription drug card since the program launched in June 2009. A quick visit to the program’s website, http://www.medchi.org/MDRXcard, will provide you with ample information as well as access to free assistance.

The plan is helpful for those with no insurance, but it is just as important for people with a high deductible plan. The Maryland Rx Card can be used by individuals who have high deductible plans, do not qualify for public funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare and by people who receive their medications through charity care providers (under 340B, a federally funded program which grants discounts to providers) and require a drug that is not available to them. MedChi recently worked with State Delegate Clarence Lam to ensure patients with high deductible plans could use the cards.

MedChi CEO, Gene Ransom, explained “MedChi is very concerned about drug prices and that’s why we work with the Maryland Rx Card. Patients need to have access to their medicines; price should not be a barrier to their access to drugs.” MedChi is working on other pharmaceutical cost related issues to help patients have access to their medicine.

About MedChi
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is a non-profit membership association of Maryland physicians. It is the largest physician organization in Maryland. The mission of MedChi is to serve as Maryland's foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health of Maryland.

(Baltimore, MD) – RxResource.org announced today that the Maryland Rx Card has been voted “The 2011 Best Rx Assistance Program in Maryland”. Programs were rated by industry professionals across the following categories: Program Access, Program Benefits, Customer Support, Prescription Formulary List, Rx Discounts, and Network Coverage. Maryland Rx Card was launched in October 2007 and has saved Marylanders more than $14 million on their prescription drugs.

A Children's Miracle Network Hospitals ad was featured in Pharmacy Times (May 2016 Issue). A donation will be made to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital each time a prescription is processed through the Rx Assistance Program.

Pharmacy Times (May 2016)

(Baltimore) – Maryland Rx Card Offers Residents a Prescription for High Healthcare Costs

The Maryland Rx Card Program announced today that more than 150,000 Marylanders have received a free prescription drug card since the Maryland Rx Card program launched in June 2009. The program's website www.MarylandRxCard.com has had almost 900,000 hits in that time, and a staggering 319,000 prescriptions have been processed, saving cardholders an average of 30% off their medication costs.

The Maryland State Medical Society, MedChi, has partnered with Maryland Rx Card in order to create awareness and help every Maryland resident obtain a discount drug card. Together, Maryland Rx Card and MedChi are currently educating all clinics, hospitals, county health departments and urgent care clinics throughout the State about the program. Additionally, MedChi is working directly with physicians and hospitals across Maryland to distribute hard cards to anyone in need.

"We are trying to create as many of these distribution channels as possible so that every uninsured and underinsured Marylander has access to this program," said David Hexter, M.D., President of MedChi.

Every Maryland resident is eligible to participate in the Maryland Rx Card program; there are no restrictions to membership and no applications to fill out. The card is accepted at over 56,000 regional and national pharmacies. Residents can download a free card, search drug pricing and locate participating pharmacies by visiting www.MarylandRxCard.com.

The Maryland Rx Card can also be used by those individuals who do not qualify for public funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare and by people who receive their medications through charity care providers (under 340B, a federally funded program which grants discounts to providers) and require a drug that is not available to them.

This free prescription card is available online for everyone in Maryland by simply visiting www.MarylandRxCard.com and printing a card. Residents with no internet access can visit any Giant or Safeway pharmacy location and ask the pharmacist to process their prescription through the Maryland Rx Card.

Two of the region's biggest grocers, Giant Food and Safeway, have partnered with a national company to offer a discount drug program to all Maryland residents.

Free to all residents, the Maryland Rx Card provides savings ranging from 30 percent to 75 percent on all pharmacy prescriptions, branded or generic. United Networks of America administers the program; distribution and advertising are handled by the separate Maryland Rx Card program.

"With the cost of everything else escalating up, people need to be given the opportunity to take their medication that they can't otherwise afford," said Bob Stone, director of third party and managed care services for Giant Food, whose headquarters are in Landover.

Prescription drugs cost an average of $25 for generics and $100 for brand names, Stone said.

The Maryland Rx Card program has no income limits, age restrictions or applications to fill out. Although the program is intended for those with limited or no insurance, it can be used by people whose coverage doesn't include a prescription plan or for discounts on any prescriptions not covered by insurance. The card is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacies in 33 states.

Stone said it is not fair that some people must choose between paying their bills and taking their medications "in this year, not in this country."

Giant and Safeway, with Eastern headquarters in Lanham, were named the Maryland program's preferred pharmacies. Shoppers who do not have a program card can still access the discounts through both chains, which might be more complicated or unavailable, at other, "non-preferred," stores.

Although some Maryland counties have offered similar programs, this is the first statewide program.

"This helps drive more traffic to our stores. Customers who might not have been coming here before now have a particular reason to shop at Safeway," said Craig Muckle, spokesman for Safeway, which also participates in Washington's program. "In this economy, people are looking for all kinds of value. It ultimately does circle back to competition and having the ability to provide the best value in the marketplace."

Brian Oliver, president of the United Networks of America Rx Card program, said Giant and Safeway were named preferred providers because of their accessible locations throughout the state.

Oliver said the Maryland program lacks partners and sponsors to help create awareness for the card. He said each program tries to involve private associations and nonprofits.

The program encourages people to buy more generic drugs, which carry bigger savings, Stone said.

Giant, which has been involved in Virginia's version of this program over the last year, has more than 100 pharmacies in Maryland. Safeway has about 77 stores in Maryland. Both chains have offered reduced-priced and sometimes free prescription drugs over the last several months.

Printable membership cards for the Maryland Rx Card program can be obtained through its Web site: www.marylandrxcard.com.

United Networks of America, of Baton Rouge, La., provides managed care products and services to 39.7 million people throughout 240,000 stores in the U.S., according to its Web site.

Maryland has joined several of its neighboring states in offering a new free drug card program that can provide savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs to the uninsured and underinsured, according to organizers.

The Maryland drug card program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered medications.

The Maryland Rx Card is free to all residents and has no income, age or membership restrictions.

The card, available for download at www.marylandrxcard.com, is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacies in the U.S.

The average savings for users is about 30% of the total cost of the medication, according to officials, who base those results in part on card use in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Cards are also available at any Giant Food or Safeway pharmacy location. Giant and Safeway have been named the preferred pharmacies for the program.

(Annapolis, MD) – A new statewide discount drug card program called the Maryland Rx Card is being launched today. This Maryland program, which is free to all residents, will provide savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs (savings should average roughly 30%). This program has no restrictions to membership, no income requirements, no age limitations and no applications to fill out. Maryland Rx Card is accepted at over 50,000 pharmacy locations across the country.

Marylanders can download a "FREE" Maryland pharmacy discount card by visiting www.marylandrxcard.com. Anyone not able to access the website or otherwise obtain a member card can simply visit any Giant or Safeway Pharmacy location and ask the Maryland pharmacist to process their prescriptions through the Maryland Rx Card.

Giant and Safeway have been named the preferred pharmacies for the program. Giant has 202 locations throughout Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. Giant plans 26 new and remodeled or expanded stores during the next 12 months. Safeway is North America's third largest supermarket chain with 1,775 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada.

Maryland Rx Card was launched to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of Maryland afford their prescription medications. However, this Maryland drug card program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered medications.

The Maryland Rx Card is a solution to the confusing maze of discount prescription programs that have appeared in recent years. Many of these programs only cover certain drugs, charge fees, and some have membership restrictions such as age and income limitations. Additional information on this Maryland discount drug card program is available to all residents of Maryland online at www.marylandrxcard.com.

(Baltimore, MD) – MedChi Announces Plans to Expand Maryland Rx Card Distribution Sites

The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) officially announced plans to expand support for Maryland's free discount drug card program. Maryland Rx Card, which is free to all Maryland residents, provides savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs at participating pharmacies. The program was launched in June 2009 and has already saved residents over $250,000 on their prescriptions.

The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) was founded in January 1799. MedChi is one of the most progressive medical societies in the nation representing about 7,400 physicians statewide practicing in more than 50 medical specialties. MedChi President, Dr. Murray Kalish, explained, "Part of MedChi's mission is to be an advocate for Maryland's patients and the public health. Providing discounts on much needed medications is a great way for us to promote that message."

Maryland Rx Card was launched to help the uninsured and underinsured residents afford their prescription medications. However, the program is available to those who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have health insurance with prescription coverage can use this program to get a discount on non-formulary (non-covered) medications. "The primary reason MedChi is supporting this program is because all Marylanders are eligible to participate. It is open to all residents regardless of where they live, or their current prescription coverage benefits," said Kalish.

Maryland residents can create a free card, search drug pricing, and locate participating pharmacies at www.MarylandRxCard.com or www.MedChi.org.

Maryland has joined several of its neighboring states in offering a new free drug card program that can provide savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs to the uninsured and underinsured, according to organizers.

The Maryland drug card program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered medications.

The Maryland Rx Card is free to all residents and has no income, age or membership restrictions.

The card, available for download at www.marylandrxcard.com, is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacies in the U.S.

The average savings for users is about 30% of the total cost of the medication, according to officials, who base those results in part on card use in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Cards are also available at any Giant Food or Safeway pharmacy location. Giant and Safeway have been named the preferred pharmacies for the program.

There doesn't seem to be much you can do to avoid the high cost of health care these days.

In 2008, total spending on health care was $2.8 TRILLION. In case you aren't sure how much that is, it's enough to pay for all the goods and services produced in Australia in one year. It's enough to fund the military of every country in NATO combined. It's more than the value of every stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

It is, in short, a whole lot of money.

For those of us who have health insurance, that $2.8 trillion doesn't just factor in the trips you make to the doctor or the deductibles that you have to pay. It also factors in your monthly insurance premiums, and any prescriptions that you have to have filled. Those of us without health insurance are also contributing a great deal to the overall total.

The vast majority of us in this country aren't too thrilled about this, but we can tell you with great certainty that HMO's, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are as pleased as they could possibly be with those numbers.

Most of our health care costs are artificial. There is no other aspect of society that prices services the way that health care does. In almost every other part of our economy, the prices are listed prominently for you to see. If you walk the grocery store, the prices of the goods are right there. If you walk into a dry cleaner, they list the prices for everything. If you walk into a bank, they tell you the percentage rates of their CD's or savings accounts. But when you go to the hospital for treatment you don't exactly get handed a menu. Instead, you hand over your insurance card, and the hospital then charges the insurance company…whatever. It could be $500 or it could be $5000. There are hundreds of factors involved. Did your insurance company negotiate lower prices? What is the hospital's billing policy that month? Or better yet, what is it that day? The free market works pretty much everywhere except for health care.

Then you have to factor in whether or not your insurance company will deem to pay the bill. Were all of the tests and procedures pre-approved? Were all the tests and procedures that were performed covered on your policy? And even if they are, will your insurance company decide to pay for them? That's a question that could go either way. Your average insurance company will usually deny at least one or two things initially and then hope you accept their denials. They are quite rightly working under the idea that many of you either haven't read or don't understand your policy.

In other words, the costs of health care are...whatever the hospitals and insurance companies say they are.

Fortunately, the one element of health care that does have a price list is the medication. Bear in mind that we say "fortunately" in a very loose fashion, because all this openness in pharmaceutical pricing does is tell us that the prices are ridiculously high. Again, there is usually insurance involved, but there is usually a list of pills that they won't cover, which are often pills that aren't available in generic form. This means that the latest, most groundbreaking medicines will cost you top dollar.

And Americans do pay a very high amount for their drugs. The pharmaceutical lobby has made it a priority to keep any government run health care plans like Medicare or Medicaid from negotiating for lower prices. This is why a pill that costs you six cents in Canada costs you six dollars in the United States.

For individuals, negotiation is impossible. The only way that an individual could negotiate for lower prices on a particular pharmaceutical is if he or she threatened to buy a different brand of that medication, but since the patent for any particular drug lasts for twenty years after FDA approval, there often is no different brand of that medication.

In other words, pharmaceutical costs are an enormous part of our health care expenses. In order to help people lower them, we would like to make you aware of a service that is being offered for free to Maryland citizens.

The Maryland Rx Card Program is offering a free service where anyone who presents a membership card at participating pharmacies can expect savings that range from 30% to 75%. According to the website:

"This program can be used by people who have Health Savings Accounts (HSA's), High Deductible Plan's, and Medicare Part D (non-covered drugs). The program can be used as a standalone benefit or to get discounts on non-formulary medications (prescriptions not covered by insurance)."

Considering how many prescriptions are not covered by insurance, saving between 30 to 70% could be a substantial amount of money. It costs nothing to join this program, and joining is as simple as visiting a website and filling out your name and address.

In the meantime, if you or a loved one in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia has been injured in an auto accident, and if you feel that your insurance company has not lived up to its obligations to you, contact Greenberg and Bederman for a free legal consultation today.

(Cumberland) – A new statewide discount prescription drug card program called the Maryland Rx Card is available to help uninsured and under-insured residents of Maryland afford their prescription medications.

The free program will provide savings of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs, with an average savings of 30 percent. The program has no restrictions to membership, no income requirements, no age limitations and no applications to fill out. Maryland Rx Card is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacy locations across the country.

The pharmacy discount card can be downloaded at www.marylandrxcard.com or check with the pharmacist.

MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, has agreed to work with the Maryland Rx Card Program to distribute cards so that more Marylanders can afford their medications. The card, which is free to all state residents, provides savings of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs at most pharmacies in the state including those at Giant and Safeway. This program has no restrictions to membership, no income requirements, no age limitations and there are no applications to fill out.

"Part of MedChi's mission is to help Marylanders have access to quality, affordable health care. The high cost of medications has put so much strain on many Maryland families that we are seeing many of our patients stop taking them. We can't tolerate that and this is one other way that we can help them," MedChi President Murray Kalish said in a statement.

Some of the participating pharmacies include CVS, Long Drugs, Shoppers Pharmacy and several others.

According to the agreement between MedChi and Maryland Rx Card, MedChi will ask its members to make registrations forms available in their offices to their patients. MedChi will then process the registrations and send them their card, which they can use immediately. Those interested will also be able to apply for their Maryland Rx Card by going directly to MedChi's Web site at www.medchi.org or to Maryland Rx Card's site at www.marylandrxcard.com and downloading an application.

The Maryland Rx Card program is available to people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for nonformulary or noncovered drugs.