SCHENECTADY COUNTY PROJECTS ADDITIONAL $4.2 MILLION IN SAVINGS IN 2010

In 2004, when the new Democratic majority took leadership of the county Legislature, they set out to implement new and progressive cost-saving reforms in healthcare. These reforms have succeeded beyond all expectations. Schenectady County was the first municipality in the State to enact a Canadian drug program that is now one of the most successful in the nation.

Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, recently announced $4.2 million in projected savings in 2010 from a major expansion of Schenectady County’s innovative Canadian program. This will bring the County’s total savings to over $13.7 million for six years.

“Our Canadian drug program has been a huge success,” said Chair Savage. “Schenectady County’s savings in prescription drug costs have exceeded $9.4 million in our first five years utilizing the Canadian drug program. Expanding this highly successful program means that both taxpayers and employees will enjoy even bigger savings than in past years.”

County prescription drug costs have increased less than 8.9% over the past five years since the County began utilizing the Canadian drug program while the national average prescription drug program has seen prices escalate by more 76.2% over five years.

Savings have been achieved by increasing mail order of both Canadian and U.S. prescription drugs from less than 1% to nearly 60% of scripts. This huge increase allows the County to purchase brand-name medications at big discounts. With the new agreements approved earlier this year, Schenectady County will expand the program’s reach from 60% of employees to over 90% of employees.

Democrats on County Legislature sponsor prescription drug discount program

This week, residents of Schenectady County will be receiving prescription drug discount cards thanks to an innovation program sponsored by Democratic County Legislators Susan E. Savage, Dr. Brian Gordon, and Martin Finn.

“Schenectady County continues to find new ways to save our residents money,” said Chair Savage. “The ProAct prescription drug card has a proven track record of helping families by making prescription drugs more affordable. Most importantly, the card is provided at no cost to County residents or taxpayers.”

Depending on the medication and the brand, the cards will provide users with savings between 10 to 50 percent, with no enrollment forms to fill out, no membership fees, and no income requirements. While the program will be most beneficial to residents lacking prescription drug insurance and seniors paying out-of-pocket expenses for the Medicare Part D coverage gap, all county residents would be eligible to participate. The card can also be used for discounts on medication for your pets. Click here, here, here, and here for more news coverage.

Schenectady County's health care innovations have become a model for the state

In 2004, the Democratic Majority on the County Legislature set out to bring savings to the taxpayers through health care coverage innovation. Schenectady County led the nation with its plan to allow employees to purchase prescription drugs from Canada and that plan has saved taxpayers in Schenectady County millions of dollars while maintaining safe and affordable health care for county employees.

Schenectady County has saved $5.8 million since 2005 through this innovative plan, including a savings of $730,000 in 2008.

Now, New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz wants to follow Schenectady County's lead by bringing this kind of savings to taxpayers statewide and improving access to prescription drugs for seniors across New York State.

Senator Diaz has introduced Senate Bill 1645 to do for New York State what the Schenectady County has done in purchasing bulk prescription drugs from Canada. “In my capacity as the Chair of the New York State Committee on Aging, I must insist that no senior citizen in New York State should have to decide if he or she will eat or get their prescription medication,” declared Senator Diaz. “This legislation will allow the State to make bulk purchases of prescription drugs from Canada for our seniors.”Click here for more news coverage.

Schenectady County continues to save money on health care

Schenectady County continues to save money on health care through innovation and planning. In 2004, the new Democratic Majority on the County Legislature set out to reform health care costs for Schenectady County.

“Our most recent achievement is the negotiation and implementation of Medicare Advantage Plans for all of our Medicare-eligible retirees. This reform reduces the taxpayers’ cost for retiree health-care benefits by $1,300,540 for 2009, a 79.17 percent reduction from our 2008 expenditure levels,” said Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan E. Savage.

“As chair of the Labor and Civil Service committee, I am constantly reviewing methods to reduce health-care costs and, in this instance, we succeeded in saving taxpayers over $1.3 million,” said Vice Chairwoman Judith Dagostino. “What is truly remarkable is that while saving taxpayers money, retiree health-care benefits actually improved with lower co-pays and lower deductibles. That is because Medicare Advantage Plans are heavily funded by the federal government. This reform is a new way of doing business, and a better way of doing business.”Click here for more new coverage.

Leaner more efficent government continues to benefit taxpayers

In 2004, Schenectady County Democrats set out to do what some said was impossible - continue to provide quality services to county residents while lowering the burden on taxpayers. Through innovative programs, they have done just that. One perfect example of this new kind of thinking is the County's bonus waiver reforms put in place in 2005.

County Legislative Chairwoman Susan E. Savage has announced that the County’s bonus waiver reforms will save taxpayers $1,501,000 in 2009, with total savings of $4,315,000 from 2005 through 2009.

“When I became Chair of the Legislature in 2004, this Legislature began progressive reforms to reduce healthcare costs which had been escalating at a double-digit rate,” said Chair Savage. “The first of many reforms was the implementation of the bonus waiver for health insurance. Beginning in 2005, employees who had health insurance coverage through a spouse or prior employment could choose to receive a $2,000 bonus for waiving County health insurance coverage. This bonus increased to $4,000 in 2008 and participation expanded. Beginning in 2008, the County also negotiated an end to the wasteful practice of dual enrollment of spouses who both worked for the County and granted those couples a 50% bonus waiver. The results have been remarkable, with annual savings now topping $1.5 million.”Click here for more information.

Schenectady County saves millions through health care innovation

“When I became chairman of the Legislature in 2004, the Legislature asked our staff to negotiate and implement new and progressive cost-saving reforms in healthcare. These reforms have succeeded beyond all expectations,” said Schenectady County Legislature Chair Susan E. Savage.

In 2008, Schenectady County saved $2,537,804 in health care costs through these new and innovative programs.

“If Schenectady County had not adopted the innovative Schenectady Meds reforms in 2005, and if Schenectady County stayed with the old way of doing business with 12 percent annual drug cost increases, our expenditures for pharmaceuticals for 2008 would be more than $2.5 million higher than they actually were in 2008,” said Savage.

“I am projecting, based upon my analysis of current trends, that Schenectady County’s drug costs for 2009 once again will not increase. I estimate that our annual savings for 2009 will reach $3,460,250, and that our cumulative five-year savings will be $9,282,309,” said Schenectady County Legislator and Ways and Means Chairman Philip Fields. “I take pride in the fact that I sponsored the legislation enacting Schenectady Meds with its innovative use of Canadian and U.S. mail order pharmaceuticals. Schenectady County was the first municipality in the state to utilize the Canadian option, and it is saving taxpayers more money each year. Our 2008 annual savings of over $2.5 million translates into a 4 percent reduction in the property tax rate.” Click here for more news coverage.