Issue Date: November 6, 2005
You can take control of drug costs
In a recent study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers explored prescription drug costs. They sent surveys to physicians nationwide, focusing on heart specialists and general practitioners. Of the more than 500 physicians who completed the survey, 93% understood their patients were concerned about out-of-pocket drug costs. Nearly as many also felt they should consider these expenses when choosing prescriptions.
Unfortunately, only about one-third of those surveyed reported that they knew how much money the prescriptions cost their patients.
Why? The most common reason cited was simply a lack of time to discuss it with the patient.
I know that sounds bad, but that's where we are in 2005. We're all living at a more hectic pace, and a doctor's office is no different. Time spent with the patient focuses on diagnosing and treating a condition; little is left for discussing the costs of treatment choices. So, what can you do? The study discusses some prudent strategies, including:
Ask for samples. I save samples of specific medications to give to patients who I know have financial hardships. Judicious use of samples can help those on a budget.
Go OTC. Over-the-counter medications can be less expensive than their prescriptioncounterparts.
Or go generic. Many generic drugs are high quality, and the switch from a brand name can save both patients and insurance companies a significant amount of money.
Compare brands. If you don't want to use a generic medication or a generic is not available, some name brands are less expensive than others.
Shave and save. Medicines are available for many ailments, so your list of daily drugs easily may grow over time. Periodically review your list with your doctor. See if you can't shave off unnecessary medications to save you money and also prevent potential complications from drugs you don't need.
Consider assistance. You can get financial assistance for prescription drugs. Go online and check out pparx.org/about.php, which links to more than 475 assistance programs and 150 pharmaceutical company programs.
Drugs not only can add years to your life, but life to your years. Because of this, we need to take every opportunity to make them as affordable as possible.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is medical director of the Wellness Program at Dallas' Cooper Clinic.
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