Mail order and generic drugs can delay onset of “donut hole”

Reported in the Oct. 6, 2006 Psychiatric News:

Increased use of generic drugs and mail-service pharmacies has thepotential to delay entry into the dreaded Medicare Part D coverage gap by morethan two months and save more than $1,200. 

Medicare patients with Alzheimer’s disease who use generics andmail-service pharmacies can potentially add an additional 13 days to theirMedicare Part D coverage and delay entry into the Medicare Part D coveragegap, or “donut hole.” 

That was one finding from an analysis of the effect of generic-drug use onprescription drug costs for patients with five common conditions. The analysiswas performed by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA). 

PCMA is the national association representing the nation’s pharmacy benefitmanagers.

Read the full report at http://www.pcmanet.org/newsroom/2006/pr_09_06/9.07.06.htm  But be sure to consider the source.