Perspective               

Popular Discount Drug Program Raises Prices for Drugs

Together Rx, a widely advertised and popular prescription drug discount program offered by seven drug companies, has raised the prices on some of the drugs it offers its older and disabled members with low incomes. For example, in early October a 30-day supply of Pravachol, a cholesterol-lowering medication, cost Together Rx members with incomes under $18,000 (a single person) or $24,000 (a couple) $15. It now costs $59.19.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKlein, two of the seven drug companies that created the program, said that they were forced to lower some of their discounts in order to comply with a federal drug-pricing law. However, Tom Scully, who monitors compliance with that law as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said that he has seen no evidence that these companies are violating the law and that he suspects they are raising their prices for unrelated reasons.

About 300,000 low-income older and disabled adults rely on Together Rx to save them money on their prescription drugs. Tom McKenna, senior vice president of planning and operations at Bristol-Myers, said that if they can resolve the issue with CMS, they will reinstate their previous savings offerings.

For information on help paying for your prescription drugs, click here or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The number is listed in Medicare and You.

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