Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ administration tried but failed to create a discount prescription drug card for uninsured Kansans, an official told legislators Thursday.

The governor’s Office of Health Planning and Finance had hoped such a card would decrease drug costs for between 15,000 and 40,000 people, said Karen Braman, the office’s deputy director.

The office solicited proposals from companies in May, but only two responded, and one quickly dropped out, Braman said. An agreement with the other company could not be reached, and the office does not plan to try again, Braman said.

She did not name the two companies.

Braman outlined the office’s efforts to create a drug card during testimony to the Legislative Budget Committee. She told the committee that her office will continue considering ways to give more Kansans access to affordable prescription drugs.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said he was in favor of any serious attempt to reduce drug and other medical costs.

“I think they had good intentions,” he said of the office’s attempt.

According to figures released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau, an average of 10.9 percent of Kansas residents were uninsured from 2001-03.

Braman said her office wanted to create cards with an annual enrollment fee of up to $20 per household.

People would use the cards at participating pharmacies to obtain discounts. Companies managing the cards would negotiate discounts with manufacturers.

Braman said negotiations with the one remaining interested company continued through August, but the company wanted the state to shoulder the cost of processing enrollments and wanted to charge pharmacies a transaction fee.