Picture courtesy of: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Outcomes of Medication Reviews: COST SAVINGS

(Each recommendation is based on review of the specific details of a patients history, current symptoms and desires about medications. The results described are specific to a real patient case and should not be used to make decisions outside the care of a physician.)

Identification and recommendations to reduce medication costs:
    
Ex. RF had been taking the same medications for a while. A change in insurance coverage made the total costs for a months medication go from $75/month to almost $200/month.

RF's daughter arranged for a medication review for RF. The key opportunities for cost savings that were identified led to the following suggestions for the physician and options for RF.

Diovan for Blood Pressure: 80 mg daily
    Recommendation 1: Change to alternative class, 
                                      benazepril 10 mg
    Cost Savings: $50 Brand copay to $10 generic copay
                            = $40/month
        Additional: benazepril -discount lists at Walmart &                             King Soopers          
                        *$4/month = $46/mo savings &
                        $10/3 months = $140 savings/ 3 mo
        Additional: Mail Order - less savings than discount
                           lists
    Recommendation 2: Same class change to losartan    
                            25 mg or 50 mg (generic for Cozaar)
    Cost Savings: $50 Brand copay to $10 generic copay
                            = $40/month
        Additional: Mail Order consideration - saves 1 mo
                            copay every 3 months on RF's plan

Crestor for Cholesterol: 5 mg daily
    Recommendation 1: Change to Lipitor (atorvastatin)                             20 mg,(just went generic Nov 2011)
    Cost Savings: $50 brand copay to $10 generic 
                            = $40/month savings
        Additional: Mail Order consideration - saves 1 mo
                            copay every 3 months on RF's plan

We also reviewed how using a discount program could save RF money on some of the generic medications in the full medication list.

Outcome: RF's nurse practitioner  changed Diovan to losartan and Crestor to Lipitor RF did not want to use mail order, but uses the King Sooper's pharmacy now. This let RF use the discount program for 3 generic prescriptions saving an additional $20 every 3 months on fluoxetine, hydrochlorothiazide, and levothyroxine. The monthly savings outcome for RF was $80 by changing 2 brands to generics, and $18 by using discount programs that do not go through insurance. Total savings = $98/month.

Additional savings of using mail order are still available, but RF prefers knowing the people filling the medications RF takes. In addition to the cost savings found, the pharmacist recommended reducing the vitamin C and E supplements RF took and the nurse practitioner agreed.
   

Photo courtesy of: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net