wfn.org | United Methodists offer drug benefits to members

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

March 8, 2004	News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
7 E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org 7 ALL{095}

NOTE: 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. A sidebar, UMNS story #096, and a photograph of the Rev. Mearle
Griffith are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Amy Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Responding to the escalating cost of prescription
drugs, the United Methodist Church has begun making a drug benefit available
to all 8.3 million of its U.S. members.
 
Through a partnership with prescription drug and health supply discounter
DestinationRx, the denomination is offering a free card that gives discounts
of up to 65 percent on most 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
United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries, 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, consultant to the board's
Division of Health and Welfare.  
 
DestinationRx, founded in 1998 and based in Los Angeles, has contracts with
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. 
 
The denomination 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. The
company has a Web site, at http://destinationrx.com, but Senior Vice
President Dan Jadosh said to call the toll-free number first to get their
membership information before going into the Web site.
 
The United Methodist Association is promoting the benefit among the church
leadership and member health and welfare providers, and it will discuss the
benefit 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." 

More information is also available from the United Methodist Association at
(937) 227-9494 or umassociation.org.
# # #
*Green is a freelance journalist based in Nashville, Tenn.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org