Cost Assistance for Prescription Medications

Pharmacy Outreach Program University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy 1-800-215-9001 www.uri/edu/pharmacy/outreach Updated May 2011

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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

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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

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Over 40 million people lack prescription coverage to help off set the cost of medications

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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

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Advertising accounts for up to ¼ of drug costs ◦ Both direct to consumer and advertising to healthcare professionals

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Drugs in low demand tend to cost more money

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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

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Although not as common anymore, physicians often have samples ◦ Some practitioners will set these aside for patients more in need

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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

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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

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Insured patients having difficulty affording their medications have a number of options

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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!)

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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

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RIPAE ◦ Helps patients with the cost of many maintenance drugs based on income ◦ Helps with Donut Hole costs

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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

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Target® Pharmacy offers similar plan ◦ $4 for 30 days, $10 for 90 days

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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

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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

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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

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Advise AGAINST using them

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Almost always illegal!

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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

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If something goes wrong, there is usually no legal recourse

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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: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

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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

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Pparx.org based off the RxforRI.org pilot program

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More comprehensive with a larger database

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Uses same criteria as Rx for RI to determine best available plans

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Applications for plans available directly through pparx.org website

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Many veterans are not aware of the benefits they are entitled to

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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

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Once eligible and enrolled, patients can receive care at any VA medical center in the country

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VA healthcare is for any ailment, not just service-related illness or injury

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Eligibility can be found online or at any Veterans Affairs office

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Some patients also qualify for VA sponsored prescription coverage (Tricare)

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Provides prescription and medical coverage to low income families ◦ Plans available for just children or entire families

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Patients are assigned to a primary care provider (PCP) ◦ Similar to HMO plan

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No cost for covered prescriptions and certain OTC products

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Up to 90 day supply available for certain maintenance medications

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Offers hundreds of manufacturer coupons for both prescription and over the counter medications

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Free service and many times little personal information needed for coupons

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Site organized by medication name, disease state and manufacturer

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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

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Often times rare disorders have low demand medications at very high prices

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NORD, in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, offers assistance to patients having trouble affording medication for their rare disorders

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Also helps patients with registering for clinical trials for new medications

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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

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Set up to provide aid to patients who are elderly or disabled

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Portal site that can direct providers or patients to the appropriate resource for a specific problem

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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