March 8, 2004 This story has been revised to clarify some details about the drug discount program. Also a correction: CVS and Walgreen's are not part of the program yet.
By Amy Green*
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Responding to the escalating cost of prescription drugs, a United Methodist organization has begun making a drug benefit available to all 8.3 million of the church's U.S. members.
Through a partnership with prescription drug and health supply discounter DestinationRx, the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries is offering a free card that gives discounts of up to 50 percent on prescription drugs and other supplies, such as contact lenses, vitamins and drugs for pets.
The benefit is available to all United Methodist Church members, regardless of their insurance coverage, income or health status. It was announced by the association, an organization of the denomination's health care organizations, at a national conference March 4-7 in Nashville.
The United Methodist Church is the nation's second largest Protestant denomination. With an average age of 57, its members are among the oldest of any denomination in the United States.
Forty million Americans have little or no prescription drug insurance. This benefit is meant especially for them, said the Rev. Mearle Griffith, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton, Ohio,-based association.
"We have many people falling through the cracks," he said. "They're choosing between taking all of the drugs they need and groceries."
The announcement comes during an election year when the cost of prescription drugs will be a decisive issue. The United Methodist Church is the first denomination to offer such a benefit, but Griffith has heard from other denominations, such as the United Church of Christ, Mennonite Church USA and the Roman Catholic Church, about offering a similar benefit.
He believes the nation's leaders have been too slow in addressing the issue.
"We think it's taken too long, and we're not going to wait around any longer," he said.
The benefit is the result of two years of research into how the denomination could help members, especially the working poor, afford their medications. The denomination's missions arm, the Board of Global Ministries, took up the issue as a social justice cause, said Jane Ehrman, health consultant to the board's health and relief unit.
DestinationRx, a privately owned company founded in 1999 and based in Los Angeles, has contracts with more than 25,000 pharmacies across the country, including Eckerd's, Kmart and Target, to offer discounted prescription drugs and health supplies to employers, unions, and other organizations and individuals. It was selected to offer health cost information and software to the federal government under the Medicare reform bill signed in December.
Ehrman said DestinationRx has "an outstanding record." During her study, she looked at other providers in the industry and also talked to DestinationRx's customers.
Working with Ehrman, the association struck a deal with DestinationRx two weeks ago and began offering the cards immediately. United Methodists can obtain the cards by calling (800) 379-9040 and referring to the United Methodist Association. Though the company has a general Web site, Senior Vice President Dan Jadosh said United Methodists should call the toll-free number to get their membership information before going online. In addition, the company is developing a Web site specifically for United Methodist participants.
The United Methodist Association is promoting the card among the church leadership and member health and welfare providers, and it will discuss the program at the denomination's top legislative gathering, the General Conference, April 27-May 7 in Pittsburgh. Griffith hopes that as word spreads, congregations and youth groups will use the cards in their outreach to the poor.
"This is a natural extension of our commitment to health," he said. "It's our passion to help the poor and needy."
DestinationRx joined with the denomination to offer the benefit for similar reasons, Jadosh said.
"It's not a situation that's an end-all to fixing the problem, but it will provide help at least," he said.
Julie Wernz, a United Methodist Association member from Baltimore, knows firsthand how much people pay for their prescriptions. She is an employee of a company that processes insurance claims. She believes people deserve help.
"Somebody's got to do it and look out for the seniors," she said.
Bill Deswick, a United Methodist Association member from Pontiac, Ill., applauded the denomination for stepping into the debate.
"Prescription drugs have been for years the highest-priced part of getting well," he said. "This provides a good opportunity to get involved in something that will really help our members."
*Green is a freelance journalist based in Nashville, Tenn. News media can contact Tim Tanton at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
"We think it's taken too long, and we're not going to wait around any longer," he said.
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