LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish recently began participation in a national program that allows residents the opportunity to get a better deal on prescriptions not covered by insurance.

Parish spokesperson Paige Falgoust said utility bills being mailed out to residents today will include a discount card for the free program, which is sponsored by the Na-tional Association of Counties. She said the card allows parish residents to save an average of 24 percent on the retail price of prescriptions at participating pharmacies in the parish. Participants will always receive the lowest price available.

Falgoust said only one card per family is needed, and there are no restrictions or limits on how many times it can be used. She said participants may also use the discount cards for pet prescriptions.

Falgoust said for added safety the program will alert pharmacists when one medication may have an interaction with another medication the cardholder is taking as long as both prescriptions were obtained with the NACo card.

Participating pharmacies in St. John Parish are listed below:

• CVS Pharmacy, 1500 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, 985-652-6677

• Gem Drugs, 139 Central Ave., Reserve, 985-536-3957

• The Medicine Shoppe, 932 Carrollwood Drive, LaPlace, 985-652-1245

• Walgreens, 1815 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, 985-652-9517

• Walmart, 1616 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, 985-652-8994

• Winn-Dixie, 1830 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace, 985-653-9974

In addition to being mailed to residents, the cards will also be available at the participating pharmacies. For additional questions about the program or if you would like to print a card or receive a card electronically, please visit www.caremark. com/naco, or call the St. John Parish Health and Human Services Department at 985-536-4955.