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Find the cost of prescription drugs in Michigan, compare prices by pharmacy or zip code, and save money on your medications. Help for uninsured individuals and Medicare recipients. Report violations and access survey results.
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The cost of drugs is important to consumers… • According to a 2003 report* 11.7% of the population in Michigan (1,162,797 citizens) are uninsured: • almost all of them are under the age of 65; • one in five are children. • Even Seniors who are Medicare D eligible and who have enrolled in Medicare D are sensitive to drug prices. * Report commissioned by Governor Granholm
MEDICARE PART D “DONUT HOLE” 100% 25% 100% 5% 1: You pay 100% of the first $250 prescription drug costs; 2: You pay 25% of the next $2,000 prescription drug costs; 3: You pay 100% of the next $2,850 prescription drug costs; 4: You pay 5% of anything over $5,100 for the rest of the year. $250 + $500 + $2,850 = $3,600 that you pay before receiving catastrophic coverage. 1 2 3 4 $0 $250 $2,250 $5,100
AG: LOCAL Usual & Customary (retail) price of 150 most commonly prescribed drugs CUSTOMIZED SEARCH by consumer and sorted by pharmacy or zip code DOSAGE & QUANTITY specific per drug DCH: Statewide Usual & Customary (retail) price of 25 most commonly prescribed drugs No search No quantity Includes drugs available over the counter AG WEBSITE (HB 4559) vs. DCH WEBSITE
Pharmacies Surveyed • Randomly selected approximately 20 pharmacies in the following communities: • Ann Arbor • Dearborn • Farmington Hills • Flint • Jackson • Kalamazoo 7.Marquette/Escanaba/ Iron Mountain 8. Midland/Bay City 9.Muskegon 10.Warren
Consumers’ Right to Know • Consumers have a right to know the price of prescription drugs when they ask in person or by phone (MCL 333.17757). • Pharmacies must conspicuously display written notice at each drug counter the consumers’ right to ask for drug prices. • Report violations to the Bureau of Health Professions at the Michigan Department of Community Health by calling (517) 373-4972.
Survey ResultsExtreme Price Differences in Marquette/Escanaba/Iron Mountain
A local Prescription Drug Finder Web site is important and here’s a good example why:
What is your Attorney General doing as a result of the Drug Survey? • Notifying all 4 pharmacies of their potentially illegal conduct in refusing to provide price information over the phone; • Alerting the Bureau of Health Professions to pharmacies that refused to provide prices; • Price gouging investigations of 28 pharmacies; • Making all survey information available at: www.michigan.gov/ag.
Recommendations Governor and Department of Community Health should take drug price information that they already have and make it available on a drug price Web site, including: • All communities (searchable by city and zip code); • All drugs; • Monthly updates.