Minimizing Medication Cost
QUESTION
Post your cost comparison document from Unit 2. Assuming you might prescribe this drug for your patient, how would you minimize cost or assist the patient in getting the medication at the lowest cost possible. What resources are available to reduce drug costs? Find at least 2 resources for free or reduced cost medications.
ANSWWER
Minimizing Medication Cost
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Date
Minimizing Medication Cost
Effective care relies on the accessibility and affordability of quality healthcare services. Zanaflex, the brand name for tizanidine, is effective in managing muscle spasticity, which could be due to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries, and is taken orally (Kintz et al., 2021). The analysis shows that the drugs’ generic and brand versions are sold at different prices across different pharmacies. Some are costly, which may affect the accessibility to these drugs by the patient. As a care provider, I recommend that the patient buy the medication in a pharmacy that sells it at the lowest price and is easily accessible to him or her from the place of residence. This would include opting for the generic version at Walmart pharmacy, which retails at $ 12.50. Other pharmacies sell it at relatively higher prices, which may pose significant affordability concerns to the patient by denying him access to the required dosage.
The high costs of drugs can affect their affordability and access, especially among the noninsured population or those from low socioeconomic status. This will therefore deny them access, which subsequently affects their health outcomes. The government, insurance firms, and even nonprofit agencies can reduce this burden on drug costs (Dalton & Byrne, 2017). One of the ways is through nonprofit generic manufacturing of similar drugs, which retail at relatively lower prices. The other resource is to encourage purchasing drugs within facilities close to the patient, which relatively offer lower prices for the same drugs (Wouters et al., 2017). Besides, community and national charity programs also help patients settle prescription costs. The other effective resource available is the use of insurance companies and discussing a plan which will assist with settling the various prescription bills. Having discount prescription cards can also help lower the associated high costs of prescription drugs (Dalton & Byrne, 2017).
References
Dalton, K., & Byrne, S. (2017). Role of the pharmacist in reducing healthcare costs: current insights. Integrated pharmacy research & practice, 6, 37. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc5774321/
Kintz, P., Gheddar, L., & Raul, J. S. (2021). LC/MS-MS and confirmation by LC/HRMS hair tests to evidence the use of tizanidine by racing cyclists. Drug Testing and Analysis. https://europepmc.org/article/med/34549540
Wouters, O. J., Kanavos, P. G., & McKee, M. (2017). Comparing generic drug markets in Europe and the United States: prices, volumes, and spending. The Milbank Quarterly, 95(3), 554-601. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-0009.12279