An interesting article on generic drug pricing.

frankdamp wrote:
My wife uses a pain relief gel for the residual problems of a less than successful rotator cuff op that is prescription only. From our drug plan supplier it's around $30 a tube. In BC, Canada, the exact same gel is over the counter for $4.99.

It's worth the 150-mile round trip to buy 20 tubes!

Frank, What is the name of this stuff? Thanks!!

I didn't watch the whole clip but I worked at one of the worlds biggest generic oral/solid dosage plants for 18 yrs and the generic companies are viciously competitive and keep their profits well in-check. The only similarity between generic and name-brand companies is they both make pharmaceuticals. They are two totally different worlds. The most successful generic companies, generally the top 5 in the US and the world, stay the most profitable in other ways, like being first-to-market and exclusivity rights. It's the middle-men and pharmacies that are raping the consumers. Just look at what Pharm-Ds make. Craig

Quote "What do you care?..You got your flu shot for free."

That's kinda like saying our retired military and veterans get health care for free!! Sorry, we all paid one way or another. It is NOT free. Get really, really, really tired of that comment - "You get it free" as if we didn't earn it.

And then there are Flu shot irregularities. I got my Flu shot at Cosco Drugs (NOT CosTco). Medicare paid 56.00 on the $63 total charge. (Medication cost 31.00 and administration cost 32.00)

My wife got her Flu shot at Target. Their total price was $25.00, which Medicare paid in full. (Medication cost 13.00, Administration cost 12.00)

So medicare has a limit on what they will spend. And some companies price according to that limit. And some price on the cost of the drug.

Ever wonder about those adds that claim...NO COST TO YOU. YOU NEVER SEE A BILL. WE WILL BILL MEDICARE DIRECT. YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A THING. WE DO IT ALL. They have a license to steal. And there is no over-site. No wonder we have a healthcare crisis in the USA. And what other things are handled like this? Scooter chairs?, Diabetes monitors/supplies?, portable oxygen systems? Ugh...

The final straw was when my wife called the TV News to suggest an inquiry into this type of practice, she got the reply..."What do you care?..You got your flu shot for free." This is the kind of appathy that is breaking the healthcare system in the USA. Her response was...NO!...The government paid...And I am the Government...So I didn't get it for free."

A dear friend needs a generic for a dibilitating intestinal dis-order. The GENERIC price is $3500 US for a 3 month supply. This price is $100 less than the name brand drug. All sources here are similar in price. If she buys the GENERIC, or NAME BRAND on Medicare, it immediately throws her in the "Doughnut Hole". Meaning she gets no more medicare benefits for prescription drugs until she spends "X" amount.

So she researched the internet. Now buys it from a Canada Pharmacy (on-Line). They order it to be drop shipped to her from India. Cost??? $120 US plus $12.00 shipping for 3 month supply. Ships in 10 business days MAX. She usually gets it in 10 days from time of order. Exact same packaging...everything. Works as prescribed.

Her doctor doesn't want to know where she gets it. He writes the prescription and obtaining the drug is totally up to her. But he did caution against using unknown sources. But said the proof is in the drugs effectiveness. If it works, it would be OK. However, his office gave her a list of off shore sources with low prices. A few others sources were New Zealand, Singapore, etc. And advice to generally steer clear of Mexico.

My wife uses a pain relief gel for the residual problems of a less than successful rotator cuff op that is prescription only. From our drug plan supplier it's around $30 a tube. In BC, Canada, the exact same gel is over the counter for $4.99.

It's worth the 150-mile round trip to buy 20 tubes!

while the pbs newshour article was interesting informative and enlightning, if it is the same one I saw, the caller left out certain relevant information that is key to determining what you will pay for a prescription and could have substantially changed the outcome.

All she asked for was the price of the drug. But that depends on insurance etc.

Kinda like calling a hotel and asking what the "rack rate" is for a room rather than I'm looking for reservations on xxx day, what is your best price. You'll most likely get much different answers.

I think the data would have been substantially different had she said for exampe: I have no insurance, what is this drug going to cost me, or I have xxx insurance what will the drug cost me.

When I ask for drug pricing that's the information that will get you close to the price you will pay. Otherwise who knows what they will give you, the "retail price" the price with co pay, the amount insurance will charge you, or what they charge the insurance co.

Last year one of my wife's diabetes medicines went generic. Our insurance requires that if a generic equivalent is available we are required to purchase it. Our out of pocket cost actually went up. Tried to get a price quote from Wal Mart but they will only tell us the price if we move the prescription to their pharmacy first.

It looks like they are comparing the price of Lipitor with the price of its generic equivalent.

Interesting article.

The best info I got from it was the website that compares pricing and helps find the lowest.

LINK

Thanks for that bit of info!