In Conclusion

In a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, Health, 70 percent of the respondants took steps to afford thier drugs in the past year, 28 percent of those resorting to potentially dangerous measures specifically:
16%-Failed to Fill a Prescription
16%-Skipped Doses
11%-Took Expired Medication
10%-Cut Pills in Half
4%-Shared a Prescription.

 It is important to understand, especially in the health care field, that our patients most likely at some time be stressed to afford thier medications.  Future health care providers should be prepared to be sympathetic, educate them of thier options, and protect them from certian dangers. Finaces seem to be a skeleton in the closet that many people choose to not discuss. As our country expands its knowledge and discovery with new drugs, drugs with less side effects, or drugs that work more efficiently, our dependence will grow as well as the cost.


So, please, talk to your physician, your patient, your neighbor, your nurse, and even your government if you want to see change.
 
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/prescription-drugs/10-ways-to-reduce-your-drug-costs/overview/10-ways-to-reduce-your-drug-costs.htm
 
http://www.pparx.org/
 
http://www.aarp.org/community/groups/displayTopic.btpageNum=1&groupId=7401&topicId=1129512

Too Good To Be True?

      When money is tight, do you pay for rent, food, or your prescription medications? No one should have to make such a difficult decision. You shouldn’t suffer because you can’t afford your prescription medications. Well, now you don’t have to. The United States Government offers incentives to hundreds of pharmaceutical companies who offer Patient Assistance Programs (PAP).  PAP provides low income and uninsured Americans free prescription drugs with no strings attached.

     Is it too good to be true? Like any program, each PAP has its own application process, guidelines, and medications they offer. Some people find it challenging to obtain prescription help through PAP. The approval process can be overwhelming and keeping up with the amount of medication, refills, and reapplying can be a full-time job.
     Here are some helpful resources that include the different PAP, medications offered through PAP, and applications that must be signed by a physician.

Sources:
http://www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs

http://www.needymeds.org/indices/pap.shtml

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm134215.htm

My Friend Told Me Medicine is ALOT Cheaper in Mexico.

     There are many Americans jeopardizing their health by purchasing drugs overseas. Many uninformed Americans assume that buying their medications overseas is safe. The idea of saving time and money is euphoric. Who doesn’t need more time and money?
     Before you purchase outside the United States consider the following:
     The U.S. Food and Drug Administration can not guarantee the safety or effectiveness of medications not approved for sale in the U.S. Even U.S. approved medications can be counterfeit and contain addictive and dangerous substances.
     Many foreign medications are marketed under the identical or similar name of those made here in U.S. but have different active ingredients. If the active ingredients are different then the treatment will be different. For example:
Brand Name Drug: Norpramin


Country:                   United States      Spain
Active Ingredients:  desipramine      omeprazole
Treatment:               depression     stomach ulcers
Can you see how this is dangerous?
     Should you choose to purchase medications overseas despite the warning of the dangers, how you will manage to read the side effects and dosage if the label is in a foreign language?
      Do the benefits outweigh the risk?
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm114800.htm

Buying My Medication Online is More Than Safe, Right?

To many, buying prescription drugs online is appealing. Its easy, its private, and you don’t even have to leave your home! However there can be disadvantages if you are not careful. We are lucky to have the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) who has recently put out a brochure to help with consumer safety when buying online. Some of the problems with buying online are as with any website when buying online you run the risk of your information being leaked, many sites will sell you drugs without a prescription or even knowing your medical concern, and the biggest problem is the meds may not be reliable. It is very possible and even probable that going to a website that is not accredited you may end up with fake, under or over therapeutic index, expired, or drugs not approved by the FDA.
Now that you know the issues, what can you do? Well, fortunately there is a program called VIPPS that essentially accredits websites so consumers can make sure that the website pharmacy is legal and honest. VIPPS stands for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site. If a website has applied for this program and is approved they will display the VIPPS seal, as seen below.

You can also check the sites with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at http://www.nabp.net/. The NABP site is easy to navigate through and even divides the “internet pharmacies” into Recommended Internet Pharmacies which comply with their policies and procedures and have gone though their accreditation process and Not Recommended Sites.
Something also indicative of a good site to use is one that provides a pharmacist to answer your questions there online, however using this credential alone is not a good idea, it should be used along with the above stated credentials.
In their brochure, the FDA also recommends that before taking any drug for the first time, see you primary care physician.

Below is a link to a news video talking about the importance of buying drugs safely online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzNy8UhR-Yw
http://www.nabp.net/
http://vipps.nabp.net/verify.asp
Sources:
http://www.fda/

What You Can Do (Part Two)

5. Ask For Free Samples
Many Physicians are given free samples in abundance. This solution is best used for short term drug needs, like antibiotics, and only a temporary solutions for those who will need medicine for chronic conditions.

6. Ask For Longer Prescriptions Intervals
If you anticipate future financial hardship, or termination of insurance, sometimes your physician will be able to give you a 60-90 day supply, dependent on the drug class. This too can save you money if you buy your drug through a pharmacy that offers bulk discounts.



7. Look Into Pill Splitting
Sometimes, it is more affordable to purchase the same drug at a higher dose. You could split your pills depending on the dosage needed. Also, the reverse can apply. For instance, 20 tabletss of 300 mg Clindamycin (an antibiotic) is more expensive than 40 tablets of 150 mg Clindamycin. In this case, you would just take two tablets at every dose. Most importantly though, you must discuss this with your physician. They are the only ones who can approve this.

8.  Consider Applying for Medicaid.
Medicaid is a health insurance program working in the federal and state level for those with low incomes and resources. It is important to check before hand if Medicaid covers your particular prescriptions. You can contact the Medicaid agency in your area to apply or ask questions.

 MOST IMPORTANTLY:

9. Talk to Your Physician
Unless you talk to your physician about your current financial position, they most likely, and should, prescribe the best medication for your disease. Sometimes they can offer alternatives, or have other ways to help. The worst thing to do is not say anything, and then later decide to not buy your medication because of finances.

Sources:
http://medfriendly.com/medications
www.aarp.com
www.FDA.org
www.needymeds.com

What You Can Do (Part One)

1.  Contact The Pharmaceutical Company That Makes Your Medication.

Many Pharmaceutical companies have special programs for those who cannot afford it.  They sometimes offer 90 day supplies, but also sometimes need 6-8 weeks to process and deliver. The amount of planning and effort is significant, but the savings can be as well.

2.  Contact a Medication Assistance Program
Partner for Prescription Assistance is a large organization that puts America's pharmaceutical companies, health care providers, advocacy organizations and community groups together to help qualify patients needing extra assistance.
http://www.needymeds.com/ is a non-profit organization patient assistance program designed to find help for those who need it

3.  Check If Your State Has a Pharmaceutical Assistance Program
For qualifying residents, some states offer assistance. The American Association of Retired Person Foundation (AARP) maintains a state list of these programs.

4.  Consider Generic Instead of Brand Name
Be sure to check with your pharmacist that the generic offered has been established as bio equivalent first. Make sure to ask your physician before he writes you a prescription; if he puts only brand name, that is all the pharmacy can fill. Buying generic can save a significant amount of money with many drugs.

Sources:
http://medfriendly.com/medications

www.aarp.com
www.FDA.org
www.needymeds.com

If Generic Drugs are Cheaper, Shouldn't That Mean That They Don't Work As Well?

     Many people are concerned about the safety and effectiveness of generic drugs, but is it really any different from brand name drugs? They think that generic drugs are not as reliable as brand name drugs just because they are cheap and more affordable. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generic drugs have to be bioequivalent to the brand name drugs. This means that generic drugs should have the same dosage, active ingredients, effects and side effects, bioavailability, strength, and stability as the brand-name medications.

     Generic drugs are mainly cheaper because pharmaceutical companies do not have to spend so much to develop a new drug, research and test its effectiveness, and apply for an approval from the FDA. When a drug company develops a new drug, they can apply for a patent to secure their right to manufacture and sell the drug. Once the patent expires, it gives other manufacturers the chance to apply for the right to produce and sell the generic equivalence of the drug. This is the major factor that brings down the prices of generic drugs. Unlike in companies that produce prescription medications, the competition between manufacturers that sell generic drugs actually help bring the prices down.

Here are a few interesting myths about generic drugs:

Myth # 1: Generic drugs aren’t as reliable as brand name drugs.
Fact:   Generic drugs are required to have the same bioavailability and effectiveness as the brand name         
           drugs, meaning they have to work the same way as brand name drugs.

Myth # 2: Generic drugs are more likely to cause side effects.
Fact: The FDA receives reports of adverse reaction related to the active ingredient in the drug. Also, some
         people might have a reaction when switching medications.

Myth # 3: Drug companies aren’t making as much money when you buy generic drugs.
Fact: Some generic drugs are actually manufactured by bigger companies who also produce and sell brand 
         name drugs.

Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46204
http://www.worstpills.org/public/page.cfm?op_id=47 http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingGenericDrugs/ucm167991.htm

Where is the Money Going?

     We all wonder why prescription medications are very expensive. According to drug companies, the reason why prescription drugs cost so much is because of the high cost of discovering new compounds and doing the research. However, the media argues that drug companies do not really care and that they spend more money on marketing their product/s. So what is the real reason behind the high cost of prescribed drugs?      It all begins with the discovery of a new compound. The scientists have to thoroughly research its properties, safety, and how it is going to affect the human body. First, they test the compound in the laboratory and on animals to check for its safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability. The compound is then tested on healthy volunteers to determine the compounds safety and dosage. The scientists then test the compound on people with the target condition to check for efficacy and possible side effects. After this takes place, the company has to go through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency that will determine if the newly found drug will be manufactured and sold to the public.
     Unlike any other businesses, drug companies take very big risks when they discover new compounds. They spend years and millions and millions of dollars to develop a new drug, not knowing if it is going to be approved by the FDA. In the end, “if the drug is not approved, the company loses the money.” If the drug is approved, the drug companies then spend millions of dollars on marketing their new product. This includes educating healthcare providers, physicians, and even the patients on what the drug does and how it works. The competition between drug companies also causes the high price of marketing.
     In conclusion, drug companies have to make up for the money they lost from the failed attempts of developing new products, causing the high prices of prescription medications that are already out in the market.
Sources: 
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18892
http://www.worldofdtcmarketing.com/files/4c407e594180a106d2db074e349ec2e6-746.html

What About You?

High Prescription Costs Don't Affect THAT Many People, Right?

Often when thinking of those who cannot afford prescriptions we think of the elderly, but recent studies have shown the elderly are not alone in this dilemma. So many Americans (of every age) can no longer afford the cost of their prescriptions, with the stretched economy, and the ever rising cost of meds it makes sense. In an article by the Center for Studying Health System Change, we are informed of just how the statistics have changed in recent years. This particular article looks at the amount of Americans under the age of 65 reporting difficulties affording prescriptions. The percent of Americans with difficulties shifted from about 10 percent in 2003 to about 14 percent in 2007 – a 35 percent increase! This means that about 36 million “working age” Americans went without prescriptions in 2007 as opposed to the 12 million people (relatively) in 2003. The below is an excerpt from the article explaining why (at least why they think) this number has shifted so drastically.

“Although increases in drug spending growth, reflecting increases in both price and utilization, slowed in recent years—from almost 16 percent in 2003 to 5.5 percent in 2007—expensive biologics and other specialty drugs are becoming a larger share of drug spending.1 Patients with prescription drug coverage also are paying a larger share of prescription drug costs, especially for brand-name drugs. Most insurers have adopted tiered cost sharing for prescription drugs, where patients pay increasingly larger amounts for generic, preferred brand-name, nonpreferred brand-name and, in some cases, specialty or biologic drugs, and the differences in payment have been increasing over time.”

 

Sources: 

Felland, Laurie E., and James D. Reschovosky, More Nonelderly Americans Face Problems Affording Prescription Drugs, Tracking Report No. 22, Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington, D.C.(January 2009)

What Would You Do?