Pharmacy Outreach Program University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy 1-800-215-9001 www.uri/edu/pharmacy/outreach Updated May 2011
Prescription drug costs are continuing to rise
◦ In 2009 alone over 3.6 billion prescriptions were filled ◦ Drug costs were up to $264.5 billion
People aged 65 and older consume more prescription and over the counter medications than any other age group ◦ This population is only going to get larger as our population continues to age
Over 40 million people lack prescription coverage to help off set the cost of medications
Hundreds of millions to billions of dollars go into research and development of drugs
◦ Most drugs fail to be approved and their costs must be offset by approved drugs ◦ Clinical trials are also costly and paid for by the manufacturer
Advertising accounts for up to ¼ of drug costs ◦ Both direct to consumer and advertising to healthcare professionals
Drugs in low demand tend to cost more money
Contacting insurance companies to find out what drugs are on formulary can lead to lower copays ◦ If patients bring a formulary list to their doctor, it will be easier to get a lower cost drug from the start
Although not as common anymore, physicians often have samples ◦ Some practitioners will set these aside for patients more in need
Patients can ask their doctor for a generic medication
◦ More and more medications are becoming generic ◦ Generic medications are FDA approved and just as effective as their brand-name parent drugs
If a patient has prescription coverage, they can look into mail order
◦ Mail order programs often times allow a 3 month supply for a one month copay for maintenance meds ◦ Convenient for some, but can take 2-3 weeks for fills to arrive ◦ Patient must be sure to tell pharmacist what prescriptions they get through mail order
Patients can ask their doctor or pharmacist for a discount coupon ◦ Drug company representatives often leave them and can be
Insured patients having difficulty affording their medications have a number of options
Manufacturer websites offer many discount plans for their branded medications ◦ http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/find/findall.aspx
◦ http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines Like many plans, these are usually income based
AAA! ◦ AAA offers discounts on most medications (10-20%) which is useful for when medications aren’t covered (great for pets too!)
Medicare Part D Changes ◦ 50% of Donut Hole costs on brand name medications will be covered by the manufacturers starting this year ◦ While the patient only pays 50%, 100% of it is applied to Donut Hole ◦ Law makers are hoping to eliminate the Donut Hole all together
RIPAE ◦ Helps patients with the cost of many maintenance drugs based on income ◦ Helps with Donut Hole costs
Walmart® Pharmacies offer $4 prescription drug program on select generic medications ◦ $4 for 30 days ◦ No sign up fee required and you can register online or in the pharmacy
Target® Pharmacy offers similar plan ◦ $4 for 30 days, $10 for 90 days
Rite Aid® offers a prescription discount card for both brands and generics ◦ $8.99 for one month and 15.99 for 3 months on 500 generic drugs ◦ 20% off cost of other generic drugs ◦ 15% percent off cost of brand name medications
CVS offers a Health Savings Pass ◦ $11.99 on 90 days supplies of over 400 generic drugs ◦ 10% off CVS Minute Clinic visits and flu shots ◦ Yearly fee of $15 per person
Walgreens has a Prescription Saving Club ◦ $12 for 90 days of selected generic medications ◦ Discounts on flu shots plus over 7500 additional medications ◦ Yearly fee of $20 for a single person or $35 for a family
Advise AGAINST using them
Almost always illegal!
You never know what you will get ◦ Sometimes the medications are not FDA approved ◦ Some products are simply placebos that will do nothing ◦ Some products are contaminated or mislabled
If something goes wrong, there is usually no legal recourse
Rx Assist is a web based resource center for patients in Rhode Island and across the nation Patients can gain access to discount programs offered by: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
Pharmaceutical companies Retail pharmacies State specific prescription programs Medicare Part D plan comparisons
An Rx Assist prescription discount card can also be obtained and used at most pharmacies Geared towards older and less educated patients
Instant communication with a live operator via telephone or instant message
Pparx.org based off the RxforRI.org pilot program
More comprehensive with a larger database
Uses same criteria as Rx for RI to determine best available plans
Applications for plans available directly through pparx.org website
Many veterans are not aware of the benefits they are entitled to
Often times eligibility is based solely on past active military service in the US armed forces ◦ Patients do NOT have to have served in combat
Once eligible and enrolled, patients can receive care at any VA medical center in the country
VA healthcare is for any ailment, not just service-related illness or injury
Eligibility can be found online or at any Veterans Affairs office
Some patients also qualify for VA sponsored prescription coverage (Tricare)
Provides prescription and medical coverage to low income families ◦ Plans available for just children or entire families
Patients are assigned to a primary care provider (PCP) ◦ Similar to HMO plan
No cost for covered prescriptions and certain OTC products
Up to 90 day supply available for certain maintenance medications
Offers hundreds of manufacturer coupons for both prescription and over the counter medications
Free service and many times little personal information needed for coupons
Site organized by medication name, disease state and manufacturer
Membership in a buying group also offered ◦ Offers up to 75% savings on certain generics ◦ Up to 50% saving on brand medications ◦ CANNOT be used with any other prescription coverage
Often times rare disorders have low demand medications at very high prices
NORD, in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, offers assistance to patients having trouble affording medication for their rare disorders
Also helps patients with registering for clinical trials for new medications
Patients can be directed to The Point to help register for a variety of benefits ◦ Medical and dental ◦ Prescription ◦ Housing and food ◦ At home care for the elderly or disabled
Set up to provide aid to patients who are elderly or disabled
Portal site that can direct providers or patients to the appropriate resource for a specific problem
Visit senior centers, senior housing and public
gatherings to offer seminars on topics related to senior care
Brown bag and other seminars allow us to interact
with patients and help them with any concerns they may have
Toll free number can called for assistance on: ◦ Brand and generic drugs ◦ Drug formularies ◦ Therapeutic substitutions ◦ 1-800-215-9001
Pharmacy Outreach Program URI College of Pharmacy 1-800-215-9001 www.uri.edu/pharmacy/outreach