Prescription drug prices vary widely between pharmacies

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Health Writer ^ | March 12 2006 | Bob LaMendola

[Caipirabob]

Go to Morrison's RX pharmacy in Plantation for 30 Nexium gastric reflux pills, and the list price is $202. Drive two miles to Costco in Davie, and it's $131.

Unlike most products, the cost of medicine can vary sharply from store to store -- sometimes double or triple the lowest price -- as a result of the nation's complex and loosely regulated drug-selling system.

LocalLinks Pharmacy industry experts say many people do not realize they can save money by comparison shopping, and that they can check a state Internet site that now posts prices of the most popular drugs from more than 150 stores each in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Howard Brofman knows. The Boca Raton retiree said he used to think prescription drugs cost about the same everywhere until a friend sent him to a local store with good prices. Brofman started checking other places and found he had been paying $40 at Walgreens for a drug selling at Costco for $22.

"I was stunned by the difference when I started paying attention," Brofman said. "How could it be so different? It's not like the price of a car where you can buy it or not. People must have that drug."

[Caipirabob]

So very few people understand how small business and capitalism works. In the purchase of goods, you may tend to receive discounts for larger order. Smaller stores, that one may find in small nitches near their neighborhood, may not buy in such large quantities. As a result, larger chains will be able to charge less, or even at a loss knowing they will make up for the loss on another product. Smaller store may struggle to make enough to match their overhead and make a profit, and charge full retail for all items. In their case, it's the convenience of say, walking next door as opposed to having grandma driving down 441 during rush hour to pick up that prescription she forgot.

At any rate, I haven't had my coffee yet so instantly I'm PO'd thinking this is just some whiney liberal rant attempting to force Ma&Pa shops to sell at a loss, or for "Big Gubmit" to step in and slice the cheese equally. Idiots...

"I was stunned by the difference when I started paying attention," Brofman said. "How could it be so different? It's not like the price of a car where you can buy it or not. People must have that drug."

That's becuase you're an idiot, Brofman. A socialist weenie licking the boots of big socialist brother hoping he'll drop a few choice breadcrumbs because you're at least a "useful" idiot.

Alright, I'll finish my coffee. I'm just mean before my Huila in the morning. Have at it!

[Caipirabob]

Hey! Where's my tagline?!? Oh...Need more coffee.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Unlike most products, the cost of medicine can vary sharply from store to store -- sometimes double or triple the lowest price -- as a result of the nation's complex and loosely regulated drug-selling system

Oy Vey! Here we go again.

[SLB]

My jury is out on this. I use a local chain supermarket pharmacy. The prices might not be as low as Wally World, but the staff all know us, the speed of filling and the prices are better than Walgreen's. I really do hate to see elderly folks on a fixed income at Walgreen's paying their prices. My in-laws both loved Walgreen's, but their average prices were much higher than we pay.

Oh well, that is what living in the good old USA is all about, you have freedoms to do as you want.

[libstripper]

The prices of drugs are really very much like the prices of other expensive items--they vary profoundly depending on where and how you buy them. For example, if you're looking for a high end digital camera, giant screen projection TV, or similar item, you're well advised to go to the Internet and Google the item you want. A host of sellers and prices will appear and the prices charged by the various sellers can vary by every bit as much as the drug prices mentioned in this article. With drugs, as with everything else, it boils down to the fact that the smart, informed consumer who's willing to do a little research will save a lot of money.

Another thing about maintenance drugs, in particular, that's not true of other expensive items, is that many large, heavily discounting distributors, like Medco Health, sell maintenance drugs in three month lots and set up one year prescriptions so they can be refilled over the Internet, with the drugs being delivered by mail. This saves a tremendous amount of time, inconvenience, and cost. I know because that's how I get my medications. If I went to a local drug store I could easily be paying at least thirty percent more.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

LocalLinks Pharmacy industry experts say many people do not realize they can save money by comparison shopping,

Because most people have a ten dollar co-pay no matter where they buy. In the days when I had one I did not comparison shop either.

Now that I pay up front I always check around and order a 90 day supply when possible.

[HEY4QDEMS]

The prices of drugs are really very much like the prices of other expensive items--they vary profoundly depending on where and how you buy them.

True, that's why they should not be price regulated.

Depending on the purpose of the drug, it can take years after it is developed before it can be commercialized and therefore drug companies spend millions of dollars before they ever see dime one.
Not to mention the drugs they develop that don't get the FDA nod resulting in millions going down the drain.

Of all the industries in this country, the drug companies typically have the largest percentage of their working capital committed to R&D.

Government controlled drug prices is certain to have a disparaging effect on development of new drugs.

[Dutch Boy]

Every week out local paper lists the prices of common items. I would say there there is always a store price variation for pretty much every item. The same brand of large can of wasbai peas can range from $2.99 to $5.99 within a mile drive of the other stores. Fresh fruits and veggies have a similar problem. One store a bag of raddishes are 75 cent a pount and another $2.49 a pound. A smart shopper will find the better price and go there.

[HEY4QDEMS]

A smart shopper will find the better price and go there.

That should be the main point, period.

Unfortunately the nanny-staters believe that every one is dumb and needs the government to think for them.

[ghostrider]

So very few people understand how small business and capitalism works.

That is true, and I am one of those. I understand the basic theory, but the application seems to have so many holes as to make the theory questionable. My scientific training included lots of theory and observable facts. After all was said and done, we were trained to step back and look at how the individual parts interacted to produce the net impact or result. What was good for a part was often bad for the whole and vise versa. When I step back and see the person living on $1,500 per month being charged $900 each month for basic medicines, something doesn't seem right. When my insurance company is billed $280 for the same procedure that is chargeable at $3,800 to a minimum wage worker without insurance, then something doesn't seem right. When my son's insurance was billed $22,500 for a procedure that was grossed up for the uninsured at $98,000, something doesn't seem quite right. One can argue theory all day, but it takes a very cold person to see the theory only works to the advantage of a part and that we need to step back and reevaluate how to fix many of the problem areas.

[HEY4QDEMS]

My insurance provider specifically said not to search for different prices on prescriptions. It said they are all the same after the contract stuff is done.

That's fine, your insurance company negotiated a contract, the pharmacies know that an insurance company will buy allot more and therefore will agree to a contracted discount.
Sometimes these contracts are tiered, and the discount increases over the course of a year when certain purchasing levels are reached.

[ConsentofGoverned]

"So very few people understand how small business and capitalism works."
>>>...................
so right this statement and your reply focus on the poor person who cannot afford it,,well maybe if they had provided for themselves they could..how many of us can afford to go to the best clinics and docs in the world for high cost care..very very few.
As a pharmacist I now see RiteAID in my area is hiring Pakistani, Nigerian and other third world "pharmacists" to provide service here in America..when I talk with these imports the language difficulties are obvious. And the level of training they seem to have is very low grade..I guess it's just another example of Bush's plan to let immigrants do the job Americans will not do.

[Dutch Boy]

You are exactly right. Freedom of choice with your dollar. I do it all the time. Sounds like you do too.

[pas]

I wouldn't doubt that this same "reporter" has written an article detailing how gas prices are almost identical. Thus they are price fixing.

[HEY4QDEMS]

driving down 441

With waves crashing on the beach!

[BlazingArizona]

...that's why they should not be price regulated.

Fair enough, so long as we also quit giving in to Big Pharma's use of government to keep their prices high. Americans should have the same right to shop around for better prices that do with anything else we can buy over the Internet.

[ghostrider]

your reply focus on the poor person who cannot afford it,,well maybe if they had provided for themselves they could.....As a pharmacist I now see RiteAID in my area is hiring Pakistani, Nigerian and other third world "pharmacists" to provide service here in America.....I guess it's just another example of Bush's plan to let immigrants do the job Americans will not do.

When one steps back and looks at the big picture, they may find that many of the poor, who didn't provide for themselves, were once working Americans who were displaced by the exportation of American jobs to the third world. The process started 15-20 years ago.

I didn't realize that it had already reached the Pharmacists level. Like a cancer it will slowly eat out the livelihood of current Americans until the Native Americans have been replaced by the third world (it seems as if this already happened to the previous version of Native Americans). The big difference is that the original Native Americans weren't sold out by their leadership to a lessor advanced culture. Our current leadership sees the world as a collection of large plantations with many serfs and a moneyed aristocrats overseen by a small number of royal families. Most of these modern royal familes are powerful syndicates. But occasionally, their public contact is through a common blood family. The Kennedys and the Bushes are the most visible at the current time.

Don't expect any relief from the government. It is their plan to replace you with a third world serf mindset that is easier to control the traditional Independent American mindset.

[ConsentofGoverned]

I agree, Our leadership is close to treason on this issue.

[ghostrider]

I am very certain that the leadership is treasonous - some directly and some indirectly through their actions of ignorance and short sighted greed. Ignorance and business are no excuses for selling out your country. The unions of the late 20th century nearly destroyed the nation through greed and ignorance. In the backlash, the financial syndicates are doing the same.