Lessons from Len (Ferrara)
Not Too Old to Learn about
Drugs…
….Len Ferrara
It’s been a busy two months. The State of NJ changed our
prescription plan on January 1, and the new carrier, Medco, definitely does
things differently than we’re used to.
I refer you back to my article on “Being Techno-Savvy” in an earlier
newsletter, because, my friends, the future is upon us. Early reports had telephone callers
being told to “do it online”. I’m
sure the reps were overwhelmed, but they should not be having a doughnut
between every call. Medco reps
have also provided contradictory phone and fax numbers and mailing addresses
for sending in prescriptions from the doctor.
The questions and discrepancies remain. Some people have had a smooth
transition while some are still fighting for what they believe is the correct
drug for them. We have people
being denied the script they’ve been taking, while others have had their order
for the same drug filled. How is
this determined? At this point we
still do not know. Much can be
accomplished through the use of the computer, but many of us still rely on a
human voice that knows what he or she is doing.
So what do I know? Or better still, what have I learned in
the last month?
- If you take a generic drug you pay $9 for a 90 day supply
when you order by mail. Since I’m
a firm believer in
mail order for long term drugs, that’s no problem for me. The cost of that drug is $10. Medco pays $1 you pay $9.
-There is a difference between generic drugs AND generic alternatives.
Before February 8th I didn’t even know there was such a thing
as a generic alternative.
By
Wikipedia definition - A generic
must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. According
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), generic drugs are identical or within an acceptable bioequivalent
range to the brand
name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic
and pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are
considered (by the FDA) identical in dose, strength, route of administration,
safety, efficacy, and intended use.
On the other hand, a
generic alternative is NOT the exact chemical equivalent of the brand-name
drug. It is ANOTHER DRUG that treats the medical condition in a similar
fashion. And so on the Medco
website we find GENERIC ALTERNATIVES as well as GENERICS being offered. Now that you know the difference,
you’ll be able to make a more informed decision. Of course, you should have called your doctor in the first
place for his/her advice about switching to a generic or generic alternative.
I understand it’s all about limiting costs, and we all know
that NJ is desperately trying to limit every cost that exists. (One Medco rep told a retired caller
that we should not blame Medco but the NJ Division of Pensions who determines
the benefits.) There are no
excuses. WE have to keep ourselves
better informed and continue our self-education using our computers as aids not
as roadblocks. And most of all – DON’T GET SICK! That obviously eliminates all
the hassles.