DRUG STORES UNVEIL NEW DISCOUNT CARD UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE NOT ASSURED BY MANUFACTURERS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

Low-income seniors have an easier way of easing the financial burden of costly prescriptions under a national drug discount card unveiled Monday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

The move consolidates discount programs currently offered by pharmaceutical companies, enabling seniors to fill out one application and carry a single card.

``The NACDS is excited about launching this program because it gives the nation's low-income seniors a meaningful pharmacy benefit,'' said Craig Fuller, president and chief executive officer of the Alexandria, Va.-based association.

Even so, no drug manufacturer has agreed to link its discount program to the PharmacyCareOneCard, which is due out in April, Fuller said.

Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis all have discount programs for the elderly and are among the companies the association is approaching. The card will allow seniors without health insurance to purchase drugs from these companies at discounts that have not been determined, Fuller said.

Though the card's impetus is to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, some remain skeptical of its impact.

``This seems more like a marketing ploy than a product that will actually provide hefty discounts for seniors,'' said Lillene Fifield, a licensed clinical social worker from Studio City. ``Seniors need a lot more than a discount card that seems more like an advertisement for those pharmaceutical companies.''

Fifield, 60, who works with seniors that aren't covered by Medicaid, often has difficulty finding affordable health care solutions for an aging population.

``The bottom line is we have not met our commitment to support a population that has contributed to Social Security. And this kind of discount card is not the answer,'' Fifield said. ``A problem with discount cards is that a lot of seniors just don't know about them because they are not actively involved in a senior organization.''

Last week, Pfizer announced a campaign in Texas to enroll low-income seniors in the Living Share Card program. The card entitles participants to a $15 flat fee for Pfizer prescriptions. However, only seniors who are eligible Medicare recipients can apply for the card.

Most drug store chains feel it is too early to comment on the benefits of a drug discount card for senior customers. But Wal-Mart stores and Rite Aid have already agreed to accept NACD's card.

``The PharmacyCareOneCard is a strong first step in providing a desperately needed drug benefit and providing it soon,'' said Mary Simmons, president and chief operating officer of Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid, in a statement. ``PharmacyCareOneCard will make it easy and convenient for the customer and easy for the pharmacist to fill the prescriptions.''

Walgreens, who has yet to announce that it will accept the card, remains optimistic about PharmacyCareOneCard success.

``It's still to soon to say if the discount card will proceed as planned for us, but we are certainly in favor of the concept,'' said Carol Hively, a spokeswoman for Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens.