CONSUMER ALERT

MIKE COX

ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?

SHOP AROUND AND FIND OUT!

Consumers can be savvy shoppers when it comes to saving a few cents on a gallon of gasoline or watching the ads in the Sunday paper to know which stores have grocery items on sale.  But did you know you can enjoy substantial savings by shopping around for prescription drugs?  It's true, and you don't even have to leave your home!  A few phone calls can make a big difference, particularly if you are uninsured or have a fixed-dollar or percentage co-pay.

Consumers should always keep track of the medications that they are taking in order to avoid potentially harmful interactions.  If you decide to shop at more than one pharmacy, be sure that you inform all of your pharmacists of all the drugs that you are taking.

MICHIGAN LAW REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF DRUG PRICES

The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 1978 that requires pharmacists to tell consumers the price of a brand named or generic prescription drug. (MCL 333.17757.)  Under this law, a consumer can ask a pharmacist in person or over the phone about the cost of a prescribed drug.  The pharmacist must provide the cost information to the consumer before selling the drug.  The consumer does not have to purchase a prescription drug from a pharmacy just because the consumer asked for pricing information.

In addition, the law says that every pharmacy must conspicuously display at each counter over which prescription drugs are dispensed written notice of the consumer's right to prescription drug cost information.  Pharmacies must also inform consumers that they do not have to purchase their prescriptions at that pharmacy, and they can use the price information to comparison shop.

WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO?

To safely save money on monthly prescription drugs, consider the following:

1.    Ask for a generic.  Unless your doctor requires you to take a brand named drug, ask your pharmacist if a generic version is available.  Chances are, unless the drug is relatively new on the market, there will be several cheaper versions of the same drug.  Ask your pharmacist how many generic versions of your prescription are made, how many generics the pharmacy sells, and the sale price of each generic.  Once you have this information, comparison shop!

2.   Shop around.  While you can ask the pharmacist about pricing information the next time you are in the pharmacy, you don't have to make a personal appearance.  After you've gathered up your prescription drugs ? so you know the names, strengths, and dosage --get out a pen, paper, and your local phone book.  Look in the yellow pages under Pharmacies and call several.  Find out who sells your prescription drugs for the lowest price.  If you find your pharmacy has the best price, or if you feel a loyalty to your pharmacy, keep your prescriptions there.  If another pharmacy has your prescriptions for a lower price, you can take your business to that pharmacy or ask your pharmacist to price match.  You can ask the pharmacy with the best price to have your prescriptions transferred from your former pharmacy to theirs.  (For safety reasons, the Attorney General recommends that you fill all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy.) 

If any pharmacy refuses to give you drug costs information, please file a complaint with the Attorney General's office, as explained below.

3.   Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.  Even after comparison pricing, some people might still have a difficult time affording their medication and other of life's necessities.  If you are one of those people, there are governmental and private programs that might be able to help you.  There is nothing to be ashamed of -- prescription drugs can be very expensive.  The following organizations may be able to help you, or lead you to other available resources:

a)   MI Child and Healthy Kids.  These programs assist eligible pregnant women, babies, and children under the age of 19 by providing them with health insurance for a nominal fee.  For more information contact your local Department of Human Services (formerly Family Independence Agency ? FIA), call toll free, 1(888) 988-6300, TTY 1(888) 263-5897, or go online to:  http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2943_4845_4931---,00.html

b)   Social Security Administration.  This is a government agency that oversees Social Security Administration (SSA), Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare.  For more information about these and other programs administered by SSA, call 1(800) 772-1213, TTY:  1(800) 325-0778, or go online to:  http://www.ssa.gov/SSA_Home.html

c)   Medicare.  This is a federal health insurance program for those receiving Social Security benefits.  To learn more information about eligibility requirements, explanations of coverage, and how to enroll, call 1(800) 633-4227, or go online to:  http://cms.hhs.gov/default.asp?fromhcfadotgov=true

d)   Medicaid.  This is a federal health insurance for the elderly, blind, or disabled, as well as for certain groups of children.  The services are coordinated through state or local governments through the Department of Social Services or the Social Security Administration.  To call for general information, contact your local Department of Human Services, or go online to:  http://cms.hhs.gov/default.asp?fromhcfadotgov=true

e)   Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA).  PPA is a partnership of drug companies, doctors, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups who have combined their resources to help qualifying uninsured consumers get free prescription medicine from various public and private assistance programs.  PPA offers consumers access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.  To contact PPA, consumers may call 1 (888) 477-2669, or visit the PPA Web site at www.pparx.org.

f)    Store Initiatives.  Several pharmacies now offer significant savings on particular prescriptions.  Meijer currently offers to fill some antibiotic prescriptions for free.  For more information on that program, you can visit www.meijer.com/pharmacy.  And other retailers, such as Target and Wal-mart, will fill many generic prescriptions for $4.00.  You can check out those programs at www.target.com and www.walmartfacts.com.

4.   Be safe.  No matter where you buy your prescription drugs, there is certain information that you should share with your pharmacist to ensure you receive safe medications:

• Any allergies.

• Names of medications you are now taking, including

nonprescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs.

(Tip:  Keep a list with you at all times.)

• Any nutritional supplements, herbal products, or

homoeopathic preparations you are taking.

• Any problems you are having with your medicines. 

For example, if you have symptoms after you start

taking a new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist

right away.

• Pertinent medical history.

• Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or thinking

of becoming pregnant should discuss their plans with

a doctor before taking any over-the counter or

prescription medications.

FILE A COMPLAINT

If any pharmacy refuses to give you drug pricing information, please file a written complaint with the Attorney General.  Mail or fax your complaint to the address below or access a complaint form on the Attorney General's Web site: www.michigan.gov/ag.

Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI  48909

Be sure to include in your written complaint the name, address, and phone number of the pharmacy, and state when you were denied drug price information.