Lower Cost Generic Drugs For Lower Income Consumers
The broader coverage will increase the number of generic drugs offered to 107, effective March 1. The program offers drugs in 19 of the top 25 therapeutic classes. Rx Outreach saved 267,000 patients more than $61 million while filling 771,000 prescriptions in 2005. Millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans are eligible for the program.
Medications available through Rx Outreach help treat ongoing health problems like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. On average, a generic drug costs about 60 -70% less than a brand drug, making generic drugs an important tool in expanding access to safe and affordable prescription drugs.
"For decades, generic drugs have been proven safe and effective. Today, more than half of all prescriptions are written for a generic drug," said Dr. Ed Weisbart, chief medical officer of Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefit management company that offers Rx Outreach.
In the Rx Outreach program, patients pay a small administrative fee of $20 or $30 for each 90-day prescription or refill. The fee covers administrative costs, including shipping and handling, which translates to less than 35 cents per day. There are no other charges, contracts, monthly bills or enrollment fees.
Without Rx Outreach patients would pay on average $100 more for a 90-day supply of the same generic medicines. When a patient fills multiple prescriptions, hundreds of dollars per month can be saved. In addition to cost savings, Rx Outreach offers the convenience of prescription home delivery to an address chosen by the patient, including the patient's house, doctor, trusted family member or friend.
The program is available to individuals and families with incomes of up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this figure is $50,000 per year. Patients of all ages may take advantage of the program even if they receive medicines through another discount program or are Medicare or Medicaid eligible.
Many patients are referred to Rx Outreach by their physician or care giver. In Georgia, Dr. Michael Cecil, cardiologist and author of Drugs for Less says, "A huge barrier to caring for patients lacking health insurance is their difficulty in affording their medications. Hundreds of our patients receive the drugs they need at prices they can afford via this program. Many more patients will be helped now that the number of drugs available through Rx Outreach is doubling."
Rx Outreach serves consumers in every state and Puerto Rico and has a major presence in Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, Georgia and Ohio. Last year, the state of Tennessee contracted with Rx Outreach to administer a customized program that provides a select group of generic drugs, diabetic supplies and insulin to disenrollees of TennCare, the Tennessee Medicaid program.
"Rx Outreach has been a critical tool for our pharmacy assistance programs as we have worked to expand access to affordable medications for Tennesseans. In 2005, the custom program that we developed with Rx Outreach saved patients in the state more than $22 million and helped to fill a vital gap for individuals that don't have insurance," says Andrea White, spokesperson for the state of Tennessee Safety Net program.
"We believe the expanded list of generic drugs offered through Rx Outreach is a positive step forward in ensuring that the millions of Americans unable to afford the high cost of prescription drugs do not go without their medications," says Tina Jason, senior director, Rx Outreach.
Visit www.rxoutreach.com to view the complete list of generic drugs offered through Rx Outreach or for more information on the generics opportunity visit www.express-scripts.com/pr/generics
Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX) is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies in North America, providing PBM services to over 55 million patients through facilities in 13 states and Canada. Express Scripts manages more than 15 PAPs, serving approximately 2 million people.
Express Scripts, Inc.
13900 Riverport Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63043
United States
http://www.express-scripts.com
Medicamente generice de cost mai mic pentru venituri mai mici consumatori - Lower Cost Generic Drugs For Lower Income Consumers - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate