In just over four months of use, the Canyon County Prescription Discount Card has saved county residents more than $43,500 on their prescriptions. Since its introduction in mid-February, the card has been used 4,841 times by 2,278 people, who’ve saved an average of $9, or 22.39 percent on their prescriptions.

Usage each month continues to grow, and commissioners hope people will become more familiar with the card and utilize it each time they need a prescription. “This program is so helpful to people when they have expensive prescriptions,” said Commission Chair David Ferdinand. “In today’s economy, people are looking to save money wherever they can, and we’re glad that we can do a small part to help.”

While the program continues to grow, 2,278 people is a small percentage of those who live in Canyon County, and Ferdinand said he would like to see that number grow much higher. “We’ve given away several thousand cards,” he said, “so it’s possible that people simply haven’t had a condition or illness where they’ve needed to fill a prescription, and that’s good. But I know there are a lot more people out there who could be using this card and saving money.”

In June, 667 people used the card on 1,579 prescriptions. That’s up from 646 people and 1,421 prescriptions in May. Users saved $14,848.50 in June, up from $12,079.76 in May.

“The program is working, and it’s helping people,” Ferdinand said. “If you know of someone who would benefit from this card, please help them pick one up.”

The cards are available at nearly all the county’s pharmacies, as well as the courthouse, county elections office, Middleton and Caldwell city halls, and through CCOA.

To find out more about the National Association of Counties Prescription Discount Cards, go to www.caremark.com/naco or call 1-877-321-2652.