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December 23, 2015
Consumer Magazine Urges Questioning of Pharmacists on Drug Pricing

Yonkers, NY—Independent community pharmacies got a big shout-out from Consumers Reports (CR) magazine after a recent “secret shopper” survey.

Urging consumers to “support independents,” the article adds, “Though you might think that mom and pop stores usually charge higher prices, CR found that wasn’t always the case. Secret shoppers found some real bargains at the independents. Independents may have a little more flexibility in terms of matching and beating competitors’ lower prices. But you have to ask.”

The national price scan of more than 200 pharmacies found that some drugs can cost as much as 10 times more at one retailer than another, even in the same zip code. The report was published in the magazine’s January issue and online.

For the survey, secret shoppers called pharmacies and requested retail prices, i.e., the out-of-pocket price without insurance, for the generic versions of five common prescription drugs: Actos (pioglitazone), Cymbalta (duloxetine), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Plavix (clopidogrel), and Singulair.

Among the results were that in Raleigh, North Carolina, prices for a month’s supply of duloxetine varied widely even among stores that were just a few miles from each other, according to the survey. The drug was available for $43 at Costco versus a high of $249 at Walgreens, where the pharmacist suggested using the store’s discount program to lower the price to $220 for a $20 fee, the article notes.

Other examples provided were for Dallas, where a shopper was quoted a price of $150 for clopidogrel at CVS, but an independent said it would sell the drug for just $23; and Denver, where the grocery store Albertson’s Save-On said its price for pioglitazone was $330, while an independent was pricing the same drug for $15.

“The pricing differences are nothing short of shocking. Our advice to consumers is simple: Shop around for your meds each and every time. Prices can vary significantly, no matter where you live and shop,” said Lisa Gill, deputy editor, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs. “Do your research, and remember to include reputable online outlets, big box stores and your local independent drug store.”

Pharmacists should be aware: CR told readers that pharmacists sometimes are prohibited from offering better prices unless they are asked directly.

“Our secret shoppers found again and again that pharmacists will not offer a better price unless you ask,” Gill said in a press release. “Asking for a better price will often prompt the pharmacist to dig a little and help you find a discount.”

The magazine also urged patients to ask pharmacists how much it would cost to pay for a medication without using their insurance because certain store discounts can lower a drug’s retail price below the copay.
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