Tips For Purchasing Prescription Drugs

Generic Drugs Save Consumers Money

When shopping for prescription medication, always ask if a generic form of the medication is available. Generic medication is cheaper than its brand-name counterpart, particularly when there is more than one generic company manufacturing the drug.

Drug Prices Are Not the Same

The price of prescription medication can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. In some instances, the price differences can be significant. Shop around to find the best prices for your medication. Be aware that prices change on a frequent basis. When contacting pharmacies for pricing information, document who you speak with and the price reported to you.
*Pharmacists need to know about all of the medications you are taking to appropriately monitor your intake. If you decide to purchase drugs at different pharmacies, make sure each pharmacist you are dealing with has your complete medication list.

Licensed Internet Pharmacies Are Available to Arkansans

The State of Arkansas regulates the sale of pharmaceutical products at retail and over the Internet. These regulations help insure that Arkansans can purchase medications from reliable sources. Licensed Internet pharmacies are an alternative to standard retail pharmacies. Before you purchase medications from an internet pharmacy, you should confirm that the pharmacy is licensed to do business in Arkansas.

If you have a question about whether a pharmacy is licensed in Arkansas, contact:

State Board of Pharmacy
101 East Capitol, Suite 218
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-0190
www.arkansas.gov/asbp/

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHARMACIST:

• Is this prescription medication available in a generic form?
  
• Can I purchase more than a month’s supply of this prescription?
  
• If so, will I save money by doing so?
  
• Are there any rebates available to me if I purchase this drug?
  
• Will your pharmacy match a lower price offered elsewhere?
  
• Does your pharmacy offer a discount to senior citizens?

OTHER RESOURCES
Supplemental Insurance

If Medicaid or your insurance does not cover all of your prescriptions, check to see if there is any form of supplemental insurance that will help you save money on your prescription medication. Before purchasing this kind of supplemental insurance, check to see if it will indeed save you money on your medications.
Prescription Assistance Programs

Prescription-assistance programs offer drugs at dramatically cheaper prices for qualified individuals. Ask if the manufacturer of the particular prescription medication you are taking has a prescription-assistance program. If so, ask if you qualify for such a program. The following are two Web sites that offer information about these programs:

www.helpingpatients.org

www.rxassist.org

Prescription Discount Cards

Some prescription-discount cards are sold that will offer savings on prescription medication. Before purchasing a prescription-discount card, check to see if it will actually save you money. Some prescription-discount cards may not offer the cost savings you anticipate. Be aware that these cards are not a form of insurance.

There are specific Arkansas laws regulating the use of discount cards in our state. To review the guidelines established through these laws, go to the prescription drug information section of the Attorney General’s Web site.