Some Residents Getting New Prescription Discounts

Alabama Mobile City of Fairhope joins program sponsored by the National League of Cities

by Steve Alexander

Published: Mon, January 26, 2009 - 11:06 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, January 26, 2009 - 11:25 pm CST

A Gulf Coast city has become just the second in the state of Alabama to offer help for prescription drug costs.
Fairhope will be issuing discount cards next month to anyone who lives in the city.
The Fairhope City Council passed a resolution Monday night to join the program sponsored by the National League of Cities.
Council President Debbie Quinn said, "Anybody who lives in Fairhope can come up and get a card, whether you're a child or an elderly person. (You get) 20 percent off of any prescription drugs and some over the counter drugs and some pet drugs that you can get at the drug store."
The program comes at no cost to Fairhope.
The discount is only for prescribed drugs not covered by insurance or medicare.
Still, people like Joannie Walsh are happy to hear about the new program.
Walsh is the owner of J. J.'s Dog House Restaurant in Fairhope.
Walsh said, "I don't have insurance, and I have prescriptions that I have to have on a monthly basis. I have to come out of pocket with that, so I'm all for that."
Quinn added, "We have a lot of elderly on fixed incomes and I think that they will be real interested in this and we have a lot of people who have lost their jobs and been laid off."
After the council meeting, Archie Lawrence asked Quinn about the program.
He was glad to hear about the new plan, but he said he's been having a hard time affording his monthly bill for treatment of prostate cancer.
Lawrence said, "I'd like to see something (more). Why would I have to be paying this $50 every month every time I go see the cancer doctor. I'm on limited income and my income has been cut since I've been here."
Fairhope joins the city of Madison as the second city in Alabama to offer the program.
It is set to start the week of February 1st.

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