01.04.06 City of Milwaukee to Join BadgerRx

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 4, 2006

Contact:	Paul Vornholt, Mayor's Office
	(414) 286-2200

Governor Doyle & Mayor Barrett Announce City of Milwaukee to Join BadgerRx
Approximately 10,000 City Employees and their Families will be Covered Under the Prescription Drug Program

Milwaukee, WI -- Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the City of Milwaukee will join the State of Wisconsin in its prescription drug program, BadgerRx.

"I'm really pleased that the city of Milwaukee is joining with the state to generate significant savings for taxpayers," Governor Doyle said. Through BadgerRx, the state has saved $40 million over two years in expected prescription drug costs."

The City of Milwaukee has chosen Navitus Health Solutions, the Wisconsin-based company that administers BadgerRx, to provide prescription drug coverage for 5,000 city employees enrolled in the city's Basic health plan. With their families, approximately 10,000 people are expected to receive prescription drug coverage through BadgerRx. The city expects to see approximately $1 million per year in healthcare savings because of BadgerRx.

"By forming a partnership with the state and combining our purchasing power, we will save Milwaukee taxpayers an estimated $1 million that would have otherwise been spent on escalating prescription drug prices," Mayor Tom Barrett said.

Governor Doyle established the BadgerRx program, which is based off of legislation introduced by Senator Spencer Coggs, through his first biennial budget in 2003. Navitus was chosen by the State Group Insurance Board as the pharmacy benefit manager for the BadgerRx prescription drug purchasing pool. The state saved $25 million in healthcare costs in its first year under BadgerRx.

"This was what I had envisioned when I introduced my legislation years ago to provide quality, lower-cost prescription drugs," Senator Spencer Coggs. "I am happy to see that our struggle is now delivering that effective, low-cost, quality service for hundreds of thousands of citizens throughout the state."

BadgerRx is open to local governments as well as private businesses. BadgerRx Gold for individuals, also administered by Navitus, offers access to prescription drugs for Wisconsin's uninsured and under-insured residents, at a savings on average of 22.5 percent. Interested individuals, local governments and private businesses should contact Navitus at www.navitus.com or toll free at 866-333-2757.

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