Comments on: The Trouble With Samples And Uninsured Patients http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:08:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Rita http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-386936 Rita Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:42:49 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-386936 Generic medications are a great way to keep your prescription drug costs down. I’ve seen ads on TV for Caduet. It has two ingredients. One is Amlodipine and the other is Atorvastatin. With my RxDrugCard I can get 30 tablets of Amlodipine for $9 and 30 tablets of Simvastatin for $9. I’ll bet they are charging more than $18 for this new drug! The unthinking public is going to pressure their doctors into giving them something just because it’s new, when something old or generic would do the job for cheaper. Generic medications are a great way to keep your prescription drug costs down. I’ve seen ads on TV for Caduet. It has two ingredients. One is Amlodipine and the other is Atorvastatin. With my RxDrugCard I can get 30 tablets of Amlodipine for $9 and 30 tablets of Simvastatin for $9. I’ll bet they are charging more than $18 for this new drug! The unthinking public is going to pressure their doctors into giving them something just because it’s new, when something old or generic would do the job for cheaper.

]]> By: Tom Kaye http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-371843 Tom Kaye Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:28:16 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-371843 Providing samples to the uninsured is worthy only for short term use. As the patient likely would not be able to afford the brand agent due to high cost, the patient would be best served for chronic issues by using generics. Clearly, from the pharm point of view the uninsured is not a valuable customer as there is no means for payment for the drug resulting in a profit contribution to the manufacturer. Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite-aid and other all have "generic program" that charge the patient a meager $4-10 for a 30-90 day supply. As I am a managed Medicaid pharmacy director, with only a $1 co payment for any branded or generic drug; the essence of the member taking the prescribed drug or even getting it filled is only 70% or less. Medicare part D as are most Medicaid groups are generic first. The economic advantage of generics are good for the patient as well as the plan. It is amazing that the day a branded agent goes generic, the branded drug quits working almost immediately. Providing samples to the uninsured is worthy only for short term use. As the patient likely would not be able to afford the brand agent due to high cost, the patient would be best served for chronic issues by using generics. Clearly, from the pharm point of view the uninsured is not a valuable customer as there is no means for payment for the drug resulting in a profit contribution to the manufacturer. Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite-aid and other all have “generic program” that charge the patient a meager $4-10 for a 30-90 day supply. As I am a managed Medicaid pharmacy director, with only a $1 co payment for any branded or generic drug; the essence of the member taking the prescribed drug or even getting it filled is only 70% or less. Medicare part D as are most Medicaid groups are generic first. The economic advantage of generics are good for the patient as well as the plan. It is amazing that the day a branded agent goes generic, the branded drug quits working almost immediately.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-371738 Ed Silverman Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:06:03 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-371738 Hi Jack2, I just fixed the link. Thanks for letting me know. ed Hi Jack2,

I just fixed the link. Thanks for letting me know.

ed

]]> By: Jack2 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-371735 Jack2 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:43:13 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-371735 The link doesn't work so I can't read the whole article. But...a generic rate of 12 or 30 percent is ridiculously low. It should at least be greater than 50%. Something is fishy about that number compared to everywhere else. They found that, for uninsured patients, the percentage of meds prescribed as generics rose from 12 percent to 30 percent after the clinic closed its sample closet due to lack of storage space. The link doesn’t work so I can’t read the whole article.

But…a generic rate of 12 or 30 percent is ridiculously low. It should at least be greater than 50%. Something is fishy about that number compared to everywhere else.

They found that, for uninsured patients, the percentage of meds prescribed as generics rose from 12 percent to 30 percent after the clinic closed its sample closet due to lack of storage space.

]]> By: Mike M http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-371698 Mike M Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:42:15 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-371698 Two different questions. When uninsured patients happen to be given samples, it costs them more in the long run. However, data show that these patients do not receive samples as much as their insured counterparts. Bottom line, free samples aren't free even when the people who may need them most are the beneficiaries. Two different questions. When uninsured patients happen to be given samples, it costs them more in the long run. However, data show that these patients do not receive samples as much as their insured counterparts. Bottom line, free samples aren’t free even when the people who may need them most are the beneficiaries.

]]> By: Dan A. http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/the-trouble-with-samples-and-uninsured-patients/#comment-371672 Dan A. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:32:58 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15339#comment-371672 yet, I recall another study that suggested poor or uninsured patients do not get the samples compared with other patients. so which is it? yet, I recall another study that suggested poor or uninsured patients do not get the samples compared with other patients. so which is it?

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