LV company wins Senior Rx contract

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas company is the preliminary winner of a contract to manage a state program that provides low-cost prescription drugs to an estimated 9,000 low-income senior citizens.

The state Division of Purchasing Thursday served notice it intends to award the Senior Rx contract, worth about $9 million a year, to Catalyst Rx of Las Vegas.

Others that submitted bids were Medimpact Health Care Systems Inc. of Tucson and Sav-Rx Prescription Services of Fremont, Neb.

Still to be negotiated is the price the state will pay Catalyst, which also manages the state employees health insurance system.

Catalyst Rx, founded in 1994, reports it has more than 2 million members in 50 states.

State Human Resources Director Mike Willden said the state will save "substantially" on the price submitted by Catalyst. That price is confidential until the final contract is awarded, in several weeks.

Willden said in the meantime he and his team will negotiate with Catalyst in an attempt to lower the price.

Senior Rx provides coverage for people 62 years old and older who have lived in Nevada for at least one year and who have an income of less than $22,016. There are no monthly premiums but co-pays of $10 for a generic drug and $25 for a preferred prescription.