New Mexico Drug Card Media Center

Chamber Promotes Discount Drug Cards

The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce launched a program Monday that will help New Mexicans who don't have health insurance obtain discounts of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs.

The New Mexico Drug Card will be available to any state resident who can print it off a computer. The card will be accepted at more than 250 pharmacy locations in the state and at more than 50,000 locations nationwide. The card is free, has no restriction to membership, no income requirements, no age limitations and has no applications to fill out.

Residents with or without insurance can take the card to their pharmacy and get the discounts. Residents with health insurance can present the card and see if it offers lower drug prices than does their insurance.

The program is a joint effort between the Chamber and United Networks of America, which has helped launch the program in 35 other states, said Chamber spokeswoman Andrea Nash.

"Our goal with launching the New Mexico Drug Card program is to drive down the costs of health care for our state's uninsured population," said Chamber President and CEO Terri Cole. "The number of New Mexicans without health insurance has increased to 450,000, or 23 percent of the state's population. The intent of this program is to lower the cost of prescription medications for this group of individuals."

The program was announced at an afternoon new conference in the state capitol with Gov. Bill Richardson.

Residents can download the New Mexico Drug Card by going to the Web site.