Last year, a Westmoreland County man operated Rx Depot, a franchise that bought prescription drugs from Canada and sold them at low prices in western Pennsylvania. The government shut it down.

Since going out of business, Ron DeMarino has been trying to come up with another way to help people afford drugs. That way is U.S. Discount Meds, an operation that he runs out of an office in Jeannette.

DeMarino told Channel 4 Action News reporter Marcie Cipriani that the drugs he sells are "made in the U.S., FDA-approved, shipped from a U.S. pharmacy" and up to 60 percent cheaper than neighborhood stores -- even comparable to low Canadian prices.

It's all made possible by a deal between DeMarino and Mossos, a small pharmacy that operates out of a Shop 'n Save in Hempfield. People can go to DeMarino's office with their original prescriptions and fill out a profile. DeMarino then brings the orders to the pharmacy, where they are filled and shipped to customers.

The discounts are only available to U.S. Discount Meds customers, not in-store patrons.

Narcotics, antibiotics and brand-name drugs are not for sale by DeMarino, but he will show people who need brand names how to order them online from Canada.

DeMarino's office is located at 45 Lincoln Highway East, in Lincoln Plaza. He can be reached at 724-523-3347 or www.usdiscountmeds.net.