New York Drug Litigation Lawyers

New York Survey Reveals Continued Drug Price Prescription Disparities Across the State

Office Of New York State Attorney General

Since July 2004, Spitzer's office has surveyed 440 pharmacies in all 62 counties across the state to determine the prices of the 25 most commonly prescribed drugs. In September, staffers from Spitzer's office visited 230 randomly-selected pharmacies in 44 counties asking for each pharmacy's Drug Retail Price List of the 150 most frequently prescribed drugs. State law requires pharmacies to supply this list to consumers on request. State law also requires pharmacies to prominently post a sign informing consumers that its Drug Retail Price List is available. Spitzer's staff reviewed the lists from surveyed pharmacies.
For example, across New York State:

Zocor (dosage: 20mg; quantity: 30) a competing cholesterol reducing drug, was $116.15 at a Westchester county pharmacy and $206.32 at a Clinton county pharmacy, a difference of more than $90.

Prevacid (dosage: 30 mg; quantity: 30) commonly prescribed for heartburn and acid reflux, was $118.88 at a Westchester County pharmacy and $195.90 at a Seneca county pharmacy, a difference of about $ 77.

Celebrex (dosage: 200mg; quantity: 30) frequently prescribed to relieve arthritis pain, especially for seniors, was $60.65 at a Wyoming County pharmacy and $131.99 at a Lewis County pharmacy, a difference of more than $71.

Flovent (dosage: 220mcg/A; quantity: 13) frequently prescribed for asthma was $117.79 at a Suffolk County pharmacy and $184.98 at a Ontario County pharmacy, a difference of more than $67.

Zoloft (dosage: 50mg; quantity: 30) a widely prescribed drug for depression and anxiety was $67.97 at a Essex County pharmacy and $111.21 at a Cattaraugus County pharmacy, a difference of about $43.

Spitzer noted that nearly 5.6 million New Yorkers lacked insurance at some point in the last year and paid the full price for their medications out of their own pockets. Also, many New Yorkers with insurance lack adequate prescription drug coverage and must buy their medications at full price.

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