The United Methodist Church will offer prescription drug discount cards, a service members believe is a first for a religious denomination.
Representatives from churches across the nation voted to offer the benefit during a weekend conference in Nashville.
"We think we're pioneering," said the Rev. Mearle Griffith.
Church leaders note that Methodists are among the 40 million Americans who do not have health insurance.
"Sometimes they're substituting the purchase of their drugs for food," Griffith said. "That's the target audience."
The discount card will be offered through DestinationRX, a Los Angeles-based discounter of prescription drugs. The company agreed to waive its usual fee of $90 to $120 and offer the card free to members of the United Methodist Church.
The benefit is needed because the average age of Methodist members is 57 — the oldest of any denomination in the country, Griffith said.
Individual Methodist congregations may open the benefit to members of other churches. DestinationRX requires only that members of other churches register through a United Methodist church.
"If the people they help are Baptist or Catholic, that's OK," Griffith said.
DestinationRX is a privately held company that negotiates discounts on prescription drugs at 25,000 drug stores nationwide, including major retailers such as Eckerd, Walgreen and CVS.
DestinationRX also operates an Internet site where cardholders can get discounts on other drugstore items such as contact lenses and pet supplies.