Saving money at the pharmacy is much more than using generics when filling a prescription, yet this is the most focused strategy. In addition, patients are becoming more cost-conscious and are refusing to pay for medications covered by their plans. Even by using manufacturer’s rebate cards, the expense can be high. However, what about adhering to the prescriber’s plan to save money? This is a longterm powerful strategy.
Case 1: A male patient is prescribed Pennsaid 1.5% and Naprelan CR 375mg tablets (2 Brand name products). Total out of pocket charge AFTER the insurance portion is $375. His insurance saved him $75. The patient had rebate cards on each of the medications, and the total charge after using the rebate cards was $276, a $99 savings. The patient was still in distress over the price, so he asked for alternatives. After recommending the following alternatives: Voltaren gel and Naproxen 550mg, his pharmacy bill would have been $96 IF HE HAD NO INSURANCE to supplement his prescription charges. The patient stood at the counter in shock wondering why his medical provider didn’t prescribe these alternatives. I could not answer this question, but offered to contact his prescriber to prescribe the alternatives. He politely refused, thanked me for the information and vowed to return after speaking with his provider.
Case 2: A female diabetic patient on four oral medications to manage her diabetes gets her prescriptions filled monthly. After reviewing her latest fill order, I reviewed her medication chart and discovered that her 100 count test strips to help her manage her diabetes was filled 5 months ago, and her oral diabetic medications were being filled late by 10-15 days. The directions on the test-strips prescription indicated that she was to test twice daily. By my calculations, she should be out of strips after a 1 & 1/2 months, and the others would be needing refills. It was clear from her refill history that she was not adhering to her physician’s prescription care plan. Her long term strategy will eventually lead her to a worse outcome than her physician’s intention. No generics were filled, but the amount saved IF she were to be compliant is over $50,000 (vision loss, kidney malfunction, heart disease and lower leg amputation) in the few complications that she could avoid paying for in the future.
In summary, case 1 savings were brought about by therapeutically substituting other agents for the prescribed ones. These lower priced medications will produce the same result, but with a lower cost. In case 2, the patient needed to be a better patient – as in being more conscientious about taking her medications and managing her condition. Of course, intervening in helping these patients is a learned art; however, once patients see the savings in “black and white”, they immediately take notice and begin questioning their therapy and actions. These are the first steps towards increasing patient health awareness.
Until next week, be well,
Dion.