By Amy Green*

[3-11-04]

WebWeaver's note:  We don't know how this will work out, but is it something the Presbyterian Church should be considering?

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 www.umassociation.org.

*Green is a freelance journalist based in Nashville, Tenn.