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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2003.12.11 - 27102Miscellaneous Resolution # 03362 December 11, 2003 BY: General Government Committee, William R. Patterson, Chairperson RE: Board of Commissioners - Oakland County Senior Prescription Discount Program Extension TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, by Miscellaneous Resolution #00264, authorized the establishment of a discount prescription drug program for senior citizens residing in Oakland County; and WHEREAS, following a Request for Proposal (RFP), National Prescription Administrators, Inc. (NPA) was selected as the vendor best suited to administer the senior citizen resident prescription discount program for Oakland County; and WHEREAS, National Prescription Administrators entered into a 3-year contract to administer the Senior Citizen Resident Prescription Drug Program, with the contract expiration date of October 31, 2003; and WHEREAS, on May 19, 2003, General Government Committee Chairperson William R. Patterson appointed himself and Commissioners Greg Jamian and Helaine Zack to serve on the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Study Group to review the current Senior Prescription Drug Discount Program and report its findings to the General Government Committee; and WHEREAS, the preliminary findings of the Study Group are as follows: 1. There is an ongoing critical need for many senior citizens in Oakland County to receive assistance in purchasing required medications. 2. Medicare, the federal health care program for senior citizens, has legislation that is being considered to provide for prescription medication, but no national prescription drug program is currently in existence. 3. Prescription Drug Management Services that are available through a professional services contract do provide a senior citizen resident with an easily accessible prescription discount program. 4. The Oakland County Senior Prescription Drug Discount Program provided senior citizens residing in Oakland County savings in purchasing their prescription medication. 5. The continuation of the Prescription Drug Discount is a highly valued and widely needed program to the residents of Oakland County. 6. WHEREAS, in April 2002, Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) acquired National Prescription Administrators, Inc. (NPA), and NPA is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Express Scripts, Inc.; and WHEREAS, on August 23, 2003, Oakland County entered into an Amendment and Change Order acknowledging that Express Scripts, Inc. assumed the contract between National Prescription Administrators, Inc. and Oakland County; and WHEREAS, the contract with Express Scripts contains the provision to extend and otherwise continue the present contractual relationship between ESI and the County, as described in the Contract, with the same Contract Number until such time that the County General Government Committee Vote: Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. and ESI can enter into a new contract or until the contract is terminated, as set forth by the contract's terms and conditions; and WHEREAS, Oakland County's Risk Management and Corporation Counsel have been in negotiations with Express Scripts, Inc. for the terms of the new contract, and have been reporting to the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Study Group; and WHEREAS, the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Study Group recommends the continuation of the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Program and the renewal of the contract with Express Scripts, Inc. as the vendor to administer the senior citizen resident prescription discount program for Oakland County; and WHEREAS, the County Executive concurs with the recommendation of the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Study Group and further recommends that the annual subscription fee of $6.00 per senior subscriber be paid for by the County at an annual estimated cost of $150,000, which has been currently budgeted; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the continuation of the Senior Citizen Resident Prescription Discount Program for Oakland County residents who have attained the age of sixty (60). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the firm Express Scripts, Inc. be retained as administrator of the Senior Citizen Resident Prescription Discount Program and that the professional services contract be renewed for a period of two (2) years, to be reviewed annually. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Oakland County fully defray the annual subscription fee of $6.00 for each participant over the age of sixty (60) enrolled in the Program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the State of Michigan or the Federal Government creates a prescription program that is equal to or better than this program, the County shall terminate this program for those who qualify. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we thank Commissioners Greg Jamian, William R. Patterson, Helaine Zack and the members of the Senior Prescription Drug Discount Study Group for their service on behalf of the senior citizens of Oakland County. Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I recommend adoption of the foregoing Resolution. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE tdc/aai Ati7 Resolution #03362 December 11, 2003 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.