A partnership between the Callaway County United Way and free FamilyWize prescription discount cards has saved county residents $38,679 by cutting costs of prescriptions by an average of 35 percent.
Kathy Richey Liddle, executive director of the Callaway County United Way, said some people are finding it necessary to make a choice of filling a prescription or buying food.
"The cost of a prescription really shouldn't be a factor. But we're finding that the high price of medicine means that people have to make a choice. They can either fill a prescription or put food on the table and keep a roof over their head," Liddle said.
Liddle said the United Way has teamed up with the free FamilyWize prescription discount card service to offer the discount cards that save an average of $20 on each prescription.
"Those savings oftentimes mean the difference between taking a medicine and skipping it," Liddle said.
Dan Barnes of FamilyWize said the free discount cards are accepted by 95 percent of pharmacies nationwide, including all major pharmacy chains.