COST PLUS DRUGS ~
Finally, A Source For Meds At Affordable Prices…
(Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.)
BOB SKIDMORE
CORRESPONDENT
© 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Drug prices seem to drastically vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Even insurance company’s mail order pharmacy suppliers seem to have difficulty keeping the cost of meds down to an affordable price. So, is there an alternative, a possible solution? Well one of ABC TV’s Shark Tank, Sharks and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban and his business partner, Dr. Alexander Oshmyansky, MD, PhD, think they have one. On January 19, 2022 they formed the MARK CUBAN COST PLUS DRUG COMPANY (MCCPDC) on-line pharmacy, and just weeks later, the launch of their Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) was established. Both these entities are efforts in their pursuit to help shield consumers from inflated drug prices. Here’s how it’s structured. Let’s use the drug Albendazole (200mg – 2 count) as an example. Their cost is $26.08 per course. They mark it up 15% so they can run the company and further invest in disrupting the pricing of as many drugs as they possibly can. This brings the base price of the drug to $30. Then they add the additional cost of $3.00 that their pharmacy partners charge them to prepare and provide your prescription to you. This makes the final sales price on their web site to $33.00. An additional shipping cost of $5 is added at checkout. The retail price at other pharmacies is as much as $437.68 equating to a savings of $404.68 not including shipping. This is a startup company so they don’t have every drug on the market, but they are adding drugs to their inventory on a daily basis. In effort to keep you informed on new drugs available they publish a FREE monthly newsletter with these additions to their inventory. You can subscribe to it by going to their website: https://bit.ly/3lYUCxn
Here are some more drug cost comparisons: Imatinib 30 count supply of 400mg’s -Leukemia treatment - Retail price $9657.30 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $120 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $39.00 per month; Mesalamine – ulcerative colitis treatment – Retail price $940 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $102 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $32.40 per month; Colchicine – Gout treatment – Retail price $182 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $32 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $8.70 per month. All prices shown above subject to possible shipping charges and prescriptions by your doctor are required. To price compare your medications visit the link below. Click on MEDICATIONS at the top of the site, fill in the brand name, generic name, or by health condition and click your ENTER, or RETURN button. Now, be prepared to be surprised! If you don’t find your medication return to this site periodically as COST PLUS DRUGS is adding additional drugs on a daily basis. To order medications have your physician contact them at: 833.926.3384 (NCPDP ID # 4940208). COST PLUS DRUGS currently does not accept payment from any insurance carriers. Naturally, this is always subject to change so check with them periodically. While their prices are generally the lowest, you always want to shop your medication needs with other suppliers before committing to anyone!
Recently, the U. S. Congress passed a bill that will cap annual medication costs for Medicare participants to $2000.00 annually. This bill also allows Medicare to negotiate with drug companies on specific medications. Any discounts they are able to agree to could also result in that drug being available to non-Medicare users at a better price. This bill does not begin to take effect until 2023 and we all know that the government does not operate on the fast track! So, be patient, but know whatever happens will aid the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company to negotiate better pricing on your behalf.
For more information: https://bit.ly/3lYUCxn
Graphic credits: Cost Plus & Google Images
Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings.
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