More and more Americans are turning away from “big-box” pharmacy chains and are utilizing independent community pharmacies and online or mail-order alternatives like licensed, regulated Canadian Pharmacies.
NCPA is dedicated to the continuing growth and prosperity of independent community pharmacies in the United States, while lowering prescription costs for patients.
A recent survey released by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) found that independent community pharmacies in the United States are reducing healthcare and prescription costs for patients by encouraging generic drug use and offering patient counseling services.
The NCPA, which represents the interests of America’s community pharmacists, released the survey in the 2011 NCPA Digest. The organization is committed to maximizing the appropriate use of lower-cost generic drugs and reducing the billions of dollars that are wasted each year by improper medication use.
While the survey revealed that the number of total independent community pharmacies decreased slightly from 23,117 to 23,064 during 2010, these pharmacies set a new high in generic drug use, increasing their “generic dispensing rate” from 69 percent to 72 percent. Since generic drugs typically cost 20 percent to 80 percent less than their brand-name equivalents, this practice helps Americans significantly save on their prescription costs.
Americans are also turning to mail-order or online pharmacies as a way to save on the costs of their prescription medications. PharmacyChecker, the leading online source for finding the best drug prices for online pharmacies can help consumers find the lowest posted prices.
At a recent Senate hearing, Herb Kohl (D-Wi), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, cited research that US drug prices are up to 30% higher than other industrialized countries, including Canada.
Beyond their more budget-friendly prescription costs, these independent and online pharmacies are providing enhanced patient counseling on the proper use of medications and tips for fighting diabetes and other common conditions.
Throughout the United States, independent pharmacies dispense more than 37 percent of all retail prescriptions. The number of prescription drugs dispensed under the Medicare Part D program remained steady in 2010, at 30 percent. However, as prescription costs have risen and more people have become eligible for Medicaid, the number of Medicaid prescription drugs dispensed rose from 14 percent to 16 percent in 2010.
More than 75 percent of independent pharmacies also offer home delivery of prescriptions to patients free of charge. Online and mail-order pharmacies deliver via U.S. Postal Service. This convenient niche service further demonstrates how many of these pharmacies and their employees are working to provide their patients with high-quality service along with access to medications and knowledge to lower their prescription costs.
PayingThePrice-Contributor
Comments are closed.
The news articles listed below have been provided via outside news agencies and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Paying the Price or it's sponsor.
Google News Reports: Prescription Drugs News Google News Reports: Reduce Prescription Drugs Costs
