June 29, 2006

Consumers now have online access to state pricing information for commonly prescribed prescription drugs searchable by pharmacy and region, making decision-making and shopping easier, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced today.

"The best available price for commonly prescribed prescription drugs are now just a click away for Michigan's consumers," Granholm said. "We are continually working to make prescription drugs and quality health care more accessible and affordable to everyone in Michigan. The new website is one more tool - along with the MIRx Prescription Drug Discount Card and the Michigan First Health Care Plan - to help consumers by bringing the high costs of health care down."

Michigan's new web site - found at www.michigandrugprices.com - gives consumers the ability to search prescription drug prices by pharmacy name, or by zip code. Users can select the pharmacy closest to them, or look at pharmacy prices from as far as 100 miles away from their homes - within Michigan's borders.

The site also makes pharmacy addresses and telephone numbers easily accessible, since prescription drug prices can vary daily, said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.

"From Lipitor to Neurotin to Clartin, citizens across Michigan now have the latest information available to us to make the best decisions about their prescription drug costs,"Olszewski said. "We have expanded the capabilities of our existing web site to make the information much more useful for consumers who continue to grapple with prescription drug costs." As the state continues to build the site, more prescription drugs may be added to the state's list as information becomes available, she said.

The web site also contains links to five commonly used discount programs for prescription drugs: the Michigan Prescription Drug Discount Card (MI-Rx), the national Together Rx Access Card, the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), RxAssist, and the Michigan Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.

Michigan continues to be a leader in providing assistance with the cost of prescription drugs. Since the state's MI-Rx card debuted in September 2004, more than 36,000 uninsured Michigan citizens have taken advantage of the program.