The Official Medtipster Blog

www.Medtipster.com Source: FDAnews.com – Washington Drug Letter, 5.25.2010

AARP: Generic Drug Prices Drop, Brand Prices Continue Rising

The prices of brand-name prescription drugs most often used by Medicare beneficiaries increased nearly 10 percent over the 12-month period ending in March, an AARP report says.

While generic drug prices fell during the April 2009 to March 2010 period, the average price of top brand drugs used by Medicare beneficiaries rose 9.7 percent, continuing an upward trend in annual drug price increases, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute Rx Watchdog Report released last week.

Prices of generic drugs most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries dropped 9.7 percent while prices for widely used specialty drugs rose by 9.2 percent.
“These trends resulted in an average annual rate of increase of 5.3 percent for manufacturer drug prices during the 12 months ending with the first quarter of 2010 despite an extremely low rate of general inflation for all consumer goods and services,” the report says.

Drug companies raised the price of about two-thirds (90 of 144) of specialty drugs studied in the one-year period. Two of the 144 specialty drugs had a drop in price, and both were generics. For an individual taking one specialty medication, the average annual increase in cost of therapy rose by $2,760 during the study period.

AARP’s analysis echoes that of pharmacy benefit managerExpress Scripts’ 2009 Drug Trend Report, released last month. Prices of drugs in the most popular therapeutic classes increased 9.1 percent in 2009, according to that report.

PhRMA, however, said the AARP report is misleading and based on incomplete information. The report fails to take into account discounts and rebates generally negotiated between drug manufacturers and payers, which can significantly lower the cost of brand-name medicines, ultimately benefiting patients, Senior Vice President Ken Johnson said.

“Also, the report’s conclusions ignore the reality that prescription medicines represent a small and decreasing share of growth in overall health care costs in the United States,” Johnson said. “Not only is the current rate of growth for prescription medicines historically low, but the recent decline in drug spending growth has contributed to the lowest rate of total health care growth in almost 50 years.”

Medtipster.com, the user friendly prescription drugs search engine for consumers, has launched a doctor specific search site to help locate generic drugs for patients.

When you visit your doctor, many times you leave with a prescription that needs to be filled immediately. Doctors care about their patients’ health – yet now they can show more care and concern by helping patients locate the cheapest prescriptions available.

“We want doctors to inform their patients how they can save on drugs, and support the use of generic drugs, at the same time,” says Jason Klein, President of Medtipster.com. Medtipster.com is the online search engine for consumers to locate cheap prescription drugs at a pharmacy near them, with most drugs available on a $4 generic program.

The newly launched Doctor Medtipster has functions separate from the consumer site. While the consumer site will promote immunization, health screenings and mini-clinic searches, the doctor site will not. “We know that doctors have a client base, and certainly don’t want to promote these types of services to those who are not looking for them,” Klein says. “We want doctors to use our site and understand that we want the best options for the patients, just as they do.”

This is the main reason Medtipster.com launched in early 2009, to give consumers a choice when it comes to healthcare. With the average brand name prescription cost of $93.00, the website’s focus is choosing generic drugs. The new “doctor appealing” website will help doctors encourage their patients to save on prescriptions. With nearly all doctor’s offices using internet and innovative technology, doctors can now find where their patients’ newly written prescriptions are available as generic drugs before the patient leaves the office. While generic drugs are the bioequivalent of a brand name drug, doctors often encourage patients to buy generic drugs when possible.

Medtipster.com is quickly earning its reputation for helping consumers find the cheapest prescriptions available right in their neighborhood. It plans to earn the same reputation with doctors, giving them the tool they need to help their patients save on prescriptions before they leave the doctor’s office.

If you’re searching for savings on brand name prescriptions, our user friendly and searchable database of coupons come straight from the manufacturer.

Many people have trouble affording their prescriptions, especially those without health insurance. In fact, one single prescription for a 30-day supply can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. I’ve heard stories of people having to choose between their medications and groceries, and it breaks my heart to think of such dilemma. No one should have to make that choice!

There are ways you can save significant amounts of money on your prescriptions, and I’m not just shouting Medtipster.com here. The growth of internet coupons has exploded over the last few years, to include everything you can imagine – and even, yes, prescriptions. You may already be familiar with our database, which locates the $4 generic program for your specific prescription at your local pharmacy. However, beyond that, we’ve done our homework on certain pharmacy’s required memberships, programs, and rates where necessary. The information is available to everyone right here, at no charge.

If your prescription is not available as a generic, or not available at a pharmacy near you, we have options in store for you! Drug makers often have prescription assistance programs, though in most cases, it is difficult to maneuver through the steps to get the help you need. Here at Medtipster, we understand that frustration and came up with a simple solution to the problem.

Medtispter.com will be implementing a new coupon database and assistance program. The endless internet search through website hoaxes and scams is over! Have you ever tried searching online for “prescription drug coupons?” The results can be a bit confusing, and can stray quite a bit away from what you were really looking to find.

We are working very hard to collect the drug manufacturer’s coupons at large, to create a database that is easy to search through and to find your specific prescription coupon. In many cases, these will save you hundreds of dollars a month! In fact, if your prescription is not available as a generic equivalent, or not available at a pharmacy near you, one click of the button to “locate coupon” will serve as relief, as well as the option to find therapeutic alternatives.

Every prescription listed below is available on a discount generic program at a pharmacy near you. Medtipster.com is your one stop shop to locate these, and thousands of other prescriptions, for as little as $4, or less!

Norvasc

Norvasc: 10 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $188.29

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $0.14

Percent Markup: 134,493%

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Paxil

Paxil: 20 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $220.27

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $7.60

Percent Markup: 2,898%

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Prozac

Prozac: 20 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $247.47

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $0.11

Percent Markup: 224,973%

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Tenormin

Tenormin: 50 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $104.47

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $0.13

Percent Markup: 80,362%

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Vasotec

Vasotec: 10 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $102.37

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $0.20

Percent Markup: 51,185%

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Xanax

Xanax: 1 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $136.79

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $0.024

Percent Markup: 569,958%

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Zestril

Zestril: 20 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $89.89

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $3.20

Percent Markup: 2,809%

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Zithromax

Zithromax: 600 mg

Consumer Price – 100 tablets: $1,482.19

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $18.78

Percent Markup: 7,892%

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Zoloft

Zoloft: 50 mg

Consumer Price: $206.87

Cost of General Active Ingredients: $1.75

Percent Markup: 11,821%

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Now more than ever, with healthcare costs at at all time high, and little relief in sight for so many who struggle with affording medications, we encourage you to share this information with your family and friends.

And remember, Medtipster.com has up to date information on health screenings, immunizations, mini-clinics, and of course, prescription drugs at the lowest cost available.

Tylar Masters

“Come on down!” Those are awfully familiar words to any “Price is Right” guru. Ever notice how the items being bid on are all brand names? It’s part of “branding,” and it works well if you’re targeting a fan of the CBS hit television show, even post-Bob Barker!

There’s a time and a place for brand names. I choose Kraft Macaroni and Cheese over the store brand, it’s my personal preference. Why? In my opinion, Kraft has a better product, and the difference is definitely noticeable. (Yes, it is the cheesiest!) I could save about $25 a year by choosing the store brand, which adds up to about $1,250 over my lifetime.

Now, this is crazy. The average person has one prescription per month, and the cost of the brand name prescription, on average, is $100.00. Let’s say from age 45 to age 68, a person spends this amount per month on the same brand name prescription. That’s $27,600! What? $27,600! Sorry, it was just SO worth repeating!

Now, let’s take this same person and factor in medtipster.com, where the same prescription is available in a generic form (which is an exact replica of the brand name) for only $4.00 per month. Now we’re talking! That’s just $1,104.00 over 23 years. While I’m sure you can do the math, basically the difference is, well, a new Honda Civic Hybrid, or two Kia Rios!

So you see, we’re not talking mac’n cheese any more. While “The Price is Right” for some purchases, it’s better to “come on down” on prescription drug spending.

Tylar Masters
Manager of Marketing and Communications
Medtipster, LLC.
email: tmasters@medtipster.com
web address: www.medtipster.com

Want to save money on your prescriptions? Take my challenge and let me know how much you save.

In the spirit of sharing, I have to admit that I was taking a “Brand Name” cholesterol drug in the statin class. And switching to a generic statin drug found on Medtipster – I will save over $500.00 in co-payments this year.

And with the assistance of the therapeutic alternatives option on Medtipster, you can save too.

Please share your savings stories with me.

PharmaSue Ann