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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
Board of Supervisors
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DATE:
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October 22, 2009
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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November 3, 2009
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Board President Mark Church and Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson
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SUBJECT:
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Coast2Coast Rx Discount Prescription Card
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve a resolution 1) authorizing the President of the Board to execute Coast2coast Rx Card County Marketing Agreement 2) authorizing the Chief of the Health System or the Chief’s designee to execute minor amendments to the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
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The Coast2Coast Rx discount prescription card program was introduced by Supervisors Church and Jacobs Gibson at the August 4, 2009 Board of Supervisors meeting. The item was referred to the Housing, Health and Human Services Committee. The Committee reviewed the Coast2Coast program at their September 22, 2009 meeting and forwarded a favorable recommendation back to the Board of Supervisors.
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DISCUSSION:
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Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc. is a private company that has developed a discount prescription card program. Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc. has approached the County and offered to enter into a contract for the distribution of the Coast2Coast Discount Prescription Card. The program has offered savings of upwards to 40% annually for participating residents.
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The card allows patients without health insurance to receive prescriptions at a discounted rate. Patients with health insurance could also use the discount card if their prescription drug is not covered by their insurance policy. In exchange for a government agency’s support in publicizing the discount program and in distribution of membership cards, Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc. produces and makes discount cards available to the public free of charge, administers the discount program, and pays the government agency a royalty for every prescription filled pursuant to the program.
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The discount cards would be available on a Coast2Coast website that is specific for San Mateo County and cards would also be distributed through local pharmacies. All major pharmacies throughout the County are expected to participate.
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The Coast2Coast program has been adopted in several counties throughout the State including Santa Barbara, Ventura, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Amador and San Benito counties.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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There is no cost to the County to promote the Coast2Coast prescription discount cards. Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc will remit fifty cents to the County for each prescription filled with the discount card. Until the program is implemented and underway, there is no estimate of the revenue that may be received, although last year the program generated $19,000 for Ventura County and they anticipate the program to generate $90,000 this fiscal year. Ventura County is similar in size to San Mateo County.
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