Health Insurance Daily

Generics May Save Health Plans Bllions

Consumers and health plans could save more than $26.4 billion over the next five years by using cheaper generic versions of 14 brand-name drugs that are scheduled to lose their patent protection by 2009, according to a study released Tuesday.

Copycat versions of those drugs, which older Americans commonly use, could help Medicare shave $23.3 billion off its prescription-drug spending over the same period, the study by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association indicates.

The association's study looked at 14 of the top 100 drugs that older consumers use, including the cholesterol medications Zocor and Pravachol, heart disease medications Norvasc and Lotrel, mental health drugs Zoloft and Risperdal, the allergy medication Zyrtec and the hypertension drug Coreg. Seniors account for about half the sales for the drugs in the study.

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posted by Mike @ 12:30 PM