Top 10 Brand-Name Drugs Ranked by Prescriptions Filled in PACE*
|
Rank |
Drug Name |
Type of Drug |
Median Negotiated Monthly Price |
|
1 |
Lipitor |
Cholesterol |
$79.12 |
|
2 |
Plavix |
Cardiovascular |
$125.91 |
|
3 |
Protonix |
PPI |
$117.67 |
|
4 |
Nexium |
PPI |
$145.09 |
|
5 |
Fosamax |
Osteoporosis |
$79.15 |
|
6 |
Diovan |
Cardiovascular |
$57.54 |
|
7 |
Aricept |
Dementia |
$158.49 |
|
8 |
Zetia |
Cholesterol |
$87.06 |
|
9 |
Actonel |
Osteoporosis |
$83.60 |
|
10 |
Prevacid |
PPI |
$146.41 |
*PACE = Pennsylvania’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) program
Data Source: PACE utilization data and Hargrave et al. analysis of data on pricing from the CMS Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, for the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Publication: Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight: Ten Most Common Brand-Name Drugs, Kaiser Family Foundation, April 2008. http://www.kff.org/medicare/7749.cfm
Assessment
The above is self-explanatory.
Conclusion
Therefore, your comments and opinions are appreciated?
Institutional: www.HealthcareFinancials.com
Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma
Consumer Reports
Did you know that Consumer Reports surveyed pharmacies’ prices for three brand-name meds and one generic drug? The range of retail prices for each drug was:
• Pfizer’s urinary incontinence drug Detrol® = $365 to $551
• BMS’s & Sanofi-Aventis’ blood clot drug Plavix® = $382 to $541
• King Pharmaceuticals’ hypothyroid drug Levoxyl® = $29 to $85
• Generic Fosamax® for osteoporosis (alendronate) = $124 to $306.
Consumer Reports also found that independent pharmacies can be price-competitive, given these price ranges, and can offer a higher level of service — especially access to pharmacists for personal consults.
Any more thoughts?
-Ann