We're In The Washington Post

This morning’s print edition of the Washington Post recommended us as a source for locating drug prices at local pharmacies. The article, titled Should You Buy Drugs From Your Doctor? It Depends On Several Factors, briefly explores the issues surrounding buying drugs directly from your doctor.

Sounds great, right? Instead of having to drive from the doctor’s office to the pharmacy, drop off your prescription, wait around for half an hour (or more), pick it up, and drive home, you can do it all at the doctor’s office. It’s one-stop shopping for your health needs!

It may be less hassle, but like many of life’s conveniences, it’ll cost you. Drugs you buy at a doctor’s office may cost more than drugs you buy at a pharmacy. For the drugs you need immediately, it may be worth it, since often pharmacies may not have your drug in stock and will have to order it (which can take a few days), or may be backed up and take a day or two to fill your prescription.

If you do decide to buy your drugs directly from your doctor, be thorough about it. Bring a list of the drugs you’re currently taking (including over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen). According to the Post article, doctors are more likely than pharmacists to rely on memory – their own or their patients’ – so be extra careful.

Check out the Washington Post article below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/26/AR2007102602499.html

 

Comments

[Physician Dispensing]

I think it is important to note that many dispensing physicians charge a price equal to or less than the price charged at a retail pharmacy, although it is not uncommon to find doctors charging a few extra dollars per prescription. Nevertheless, in office medication dispensing is rarely about making money. Shame on dispensing companies that promise physicians unrealistic fortunes. The extra income can be meaningful, but you won't "get rich" off of this service. It's more about providing patient convenience and improving the overall care experience.

To be sure, in-office medication dispensing is not appropriate in every physician practice, nor is it the best choice for every patient. “One size fits all” solutions rarely exist in modern medicine. The IOD concept works best in offices that prescribe heavily for acute conditions requiring a single course of therapy, and operate in a building that lacks its own pharmacy. To keep inventory manageable and overhead costs low, dispensing physicians stock a limited selection of medications, which means some patients will not save a trip to the pharmacy. Physicians sometimes cannot or will not match lower prices charged elsewhere. In many cases, however, in-office dispensing is an appropriate if not ideal patient-centered service, delivering benefits to patients, physicians and payers.

For the estimated 20,000 physicians today dispensing medication at the point of care, patient-centered IOD has proven itself successful at increasing patient satisfaction and helping to offset rising practice costs and lower reimbursement rates.

I hope these comments serve to inform physician and patient communities about physician medication dispensing. There are still a lot of misconceptions floating around. Beware of companies that promise you will "get rich quick" by selling drugs in your office. Look for companies that emphasize the role of patient satisfaction and realistic income generation.

Fair disclosure: I work for a company that sells prepackaged medications to physicians and dentists. To be fair to others, I will not mention the company's name.

[Dr. Walker]

I am a Dentist that has been practicing in California for over ten years. Just over a year ago I commenced an in-office dispensing program through a company called Monsterdental. If you would like more information on them you can find them at: http://www.monsterdental.com I must say that I was a bit skeptical at first myself, but I have found it to be very successful for my practice.

I try to match my patient's co-pay whenever possible, which still leaves room for a decent profit to me, but the greatest benefit is to those few patients I see that do not have insurance. I know that in the past it was not uncommon for a patient to leave a prescription unfilled (even though it was for a medication they severely needed) simply because they were afraid of what it would cost them. I really appreciate knowing that when a patient leaves my office they already have their prescription in hand.

Often, I would prescribe an anti-biotic for a patient with an active infection and schedule a return visit. They would fail to fill the prescription and return with the very same infection, leaving me with an open chair for the hour. For me, the extra money is ancillary to knowing that my patients are getting the medications they need.

I have found that my patients really appreciate not having to go to the pharmacy as well. I believe I read somewhere that the average person spends an additional 35% or $35 (I can't remember which, but either is significant) while waiting for their prescription to be filled at a retail pharmacy. No wonder they're on every street corner!

[Compounding Pharmacist]

Compound Pharmacy has gained much popularity in the field of medicine. The medications are equally effective and safe for sick patients who cannot take the actual medications due to their personal allergies.