Gov. Blagojevich welcomes baseball great Ernie Banks to Illinois Rx Buying Club team           

Hall of Famer to serve as Illinois Rx Buying Club spokesman

[APRIL 8, 2005]  CHICAGO -- With the Chicago Cubs playing their first home game of the season today (Friday) at Wrigley Field, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Thursday that Mr. Cub™ , Ernie Banks, will serve as spokesman for the state's Illinois Rx Buying Club. Banks will appear in a series of radio, TV and print advertisements urging seniors and people with disabilities to join the Illinois Rx Buying Club.

The club provides seniors, 65 and over, as well as people with disabilities, average savings of up to 24 percent on all FDA-approved prescription drugs at over 2,200 pharmacies throughout the state. In 2004, its first year, the club helped over 66,000 members fill over 300,000 prescriptions for a total savings of over $4.1 million.

"We're thrilled to have Ernie Banks on board to help promote and expand the Rx Buying Club to more people who are struggling to afford their medications," the governor said. "His willingness to get involved shows that he's more than a living baseball legend -- he's a concerned citizen who understands the challenges facing seniors today."

Banks, who is a member of baseball's Hall of Fame and a former Negro League player, volunteered to help promote the Illinois Rx Buying Club because he has friends and family who could be helped by the program.

"I know people in my life that need help with their prescription drug costs," said Banks. "It just tears me up to see them pay so much for their medications. This program will help."

The ad campaign coincides with the launch of the Illinois Rx Buying Club's enrollment drive and Member Day promotion. More than 460 participating pharmacies throughout the state will encourage customers to sign up for the program. Additionally, a number of partners will offer a Member Day benefit once a week or month. Earlier this year the enrollment fee was lowered to $10. For more details visit the club's website at www.IllinoisRxBuyingClub.com.

The Illinois Rx Buying Club provides discounts on all prescription drugs approved by the FDA and is available through participating pharmacies and a mail-order option. The program is not income-based and is open to all Illinois residents who are 65 or older and the disabled. Members pay an annual administrative fee and in return receive a discount card they can use when purchasing any prescription medication at more than 50,000 participating pharmacies across the United States. For more information, call 1 [phone] or visit www.IllinoisRxBuyingClub.com.

Participating pharmacies

(* Denotes pharmacies offering a Member Day benefit)

All locations

Dominick's*
Osco
Schnucks

Albion

Lovins Pharmacy*

Alton

B & D Pharmacy*

Aurora

Aurora Pharmacy*
Medical Park Pharmacy*

Barrington

Good Shepherd Hospital Pharmacy*

Belvidere

O'Brien & Dobbins Pharmacy*

Bethalto

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy*

Bloomington

Wal-Mart Pharmacy

Blue Island

Islander Pharmacy*

Bradley

Jaffe Drug Store*

Bridgeport

Scott's Drugs & News*

Burr Ridge

Auburn Pharmacy*

Canton

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

Carmi

Lovins Pharmacy*

Chicago

Braun Pharmacy*
Kosirog Drugs*
Monik Pharmacy*
Outpatient Pharmacy Services*
Randolph's Rx Pharmacy*
Rex Pharmaceuticals*

Christopher

Kirk's Pharmacy

Clinton

Clausen's Pharmacy
Prescription Shoppe

Columbia

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy*

Decatur

Dale's Southlake Pharmacy*
Victory Pharmacy*

Dixon

Dixon Pharmacy*

Fulton

Berg Pharmacy*

Galena

Clingman Pharmacy

Grayville

Lovins Pharmacy*

Gurnee

Greenleaf Pharmacy

Hardin

Calhoun Drug*

Herrin

Moroni Drugs*

Highland

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy*

Jerseyville

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

Joliet

Basinger Pharmacy
Basingers Pharmacy City Center
Basingers Primary Care Pharmacy

Lacon

Family Discount Drugs*

Ladd

Ladd Pharmacy*

Lockport

Basingers Lockport Pharmacy*
Corwin Lockport Pharmacy*

Lombard

Lombard Pharmacy*

Markham

Harvey Health Center Pharmacy*

Melrose Park

Melrose Pharmacy*

Morris

Morris Family Discount Drug

Mount Carmel

Buehkers Pharmacy

Naperville

Naperville Pharmacy*

Norridge

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

Oak Lawn

Barcus Pharmacy*

Olney

Bowers Drug Store

Orion

Orion Pharmacy

Ridgway

Skaggs-Reeder Drugs*

Rockford

Nihan & Martin Inc.

Roseville

Axline Drug Store

Salem

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy*

Sauk Village

Consumer Pharmacy

Schaumburg

Moon Lake Pharmacy*

Shelbyville

Medical Center Pharmacy

Silvis

Illinois Clinic Pharmacy*

Springfield

Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy*

St. Charles

Burger Drugs*

West Frankfort

Union Pharmacy

[News release from the governor's office]