Published: July 23, 2008 10:50 pm            

OUR VIEW: Niagara Rx not worth shelving

The cynics among us like to believe the Niagara County leadership passes legislation all year long, with only some being mentioned more than once. Unless it’s law, or something you run into daily, most programs come with little pomp and circumstance and may sit on a bookshelf or in a file cabinet at County Hall for years and years.

Well, once such program, which could benefit many, was unearthed last week.

The Niagara Rx program has been in place for about four years, but it’s little used. According to Chris Robbins, president of Liberty Care Rx, only about 25 residents currently take advantage of the program. The county Legislature is being asked to give a renewed push to prescription drug discount cards that are available to every Niagara County resident.

With prescription drug costs sky-rocketing these days, it’s unfortunate county residents haven’t heard more about this program.

Niagara Rx has been in effect since 2004, when the Legislature sanctioned it and budgeted money to start a Web site, but the program never has been widely used.

Legislator William Ross felt the membership fee that used to be attached, $15 per single person or $26 per family, seemed to discourage it. It’s been changed to a no-fee program, but again, this is the first we’ve heard of it.

Niagara Rx representatives have been invited to speak about the benefits of the program at a future meeting. Maybe then, after even more exposure, the word will get out and legislators will start circulating pamphlets and promotional materials.

Again, the price — nothing — is right, so why not offer it up to county residents. Makes you wonder what other benefits to Niagara County residents are shelved, only to gather dust.

        

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