As healthcare costs in the U.S. continue to soar, more insurance companies and physicians are encouraging patients to take generic medications. They are cheaper alternatives to branded drugs and offer similar safety and efficacy.
When it comes to generic heart failure treatments, though, patients may be surprised at the variation in prices even within the same zip code.
A study published in JAMA Cardiology on Nov. 15 examined the prices of three generic medications (digoxin, lisinopril and carvedilol) that guidelines recommend for patients with heart failure. The researchers also presented their findings at the at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.
They limited their analysis to uninsured and underinsured patients who bought their medications from 153 chain and 22 independent pharmacies in Missouri and Illinois. Still, their results were striking.
Only one of the chains had consistent pricing in their stores. And digoxin, the oldest of the three medications, was consistently most expensive.
Even with a restricted geographic area, patients who need these medications pay a wide range of prices. For instance, the price for a 30-day supply of low-dose digoxin ranged from $12.19 to $94.99, the price for a 30-day supply of low-dose lisinopril ranged from $3 to $80.59, and the price for a 30-day supply of low-dose carvedilol ranged from $4 to $135.99.
The trend was similar for 90-day supplies as well as for low- and high-doses of the three drugs. The prices also did not vary significantly by state or by median annual incomes.
The researchers mentioned that they could not determine the reasons for the variation in prices. They added that more research was needed to evaluate the implications on medication adherence and clinical outcomes, as well.
“Our findings suggest that location does not matter,” the researchers wrote. “However, patients in low-income areas, who may be at highest risk of readmissions for and complications from [heart failure] may not have convenient access to multiple pharmacies with competitive pricing, increasing vulnerability to lapses in adherence.”
Executive Editor
Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.