Health Insurance Daily

Health Plans Target Physicians and Patients Who Still Shun Generic Drugs

While generic drug usage has soared in recent years, lingering resistance on the part of patients and physicians still prevent health plans from tapping the full potential of the low-cost products, according to a top executive at Caremark Rx, Inc.

Breaking down these barriers requires targeted generic-drug awareness programs, said Jan Berger, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Caremark.

Generic drug utilization has grown from roughly 30% of total prescriptions dispensed in the late 1990s to about 50% in 2005, she told an April 25 session of the National Managed Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C. But despite the fact generics are roughly 60% to 70% cheaper than brands, two major barriers still hamper more extensive generic prescribing, she said.

First, many patients still believe that generics have a lower quality, or are not as safe and effective, Berger said. Second, many doctors are not comfortable prescribing generics, Berger said.

To read this article in its entirety click on Drug Benefit News.

posted by Mike @ 9:06 AM