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Peter Stein and Ernst Valery Competition: An Antidote To The High Price Of Prescription Drugs Health Affairs, July/August 2004; 23(4): 151-158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Reprints & Permissions]

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Cutting Health Costs

Verna B Brunswick   ( 26 July 2004 )

Cutting Health Costs 26 July 2004
Verna B Brunswick, Retired Send comment to journal: Re: Cutting Health Costs vbrunswick{at}hotmail.com Verna B Brunswick	Prescription costs can be cut drastically by requiring pharmacies and supplies such as Publix, Wal Mart, etc. to supply a dispensing fee. This will provide an opportunity for the public to "shop around" and offer some competition to suppliers. All pharmacies should be required to keep records on computer of all clients filling a prescription. Social Security numbers can be used for identification. This information should be made available to all other pharmacies. This will eliminate people going to multiple doctors to get the same prescription. The costs of these prescriptions are frequently covered through social services, and so is the doctor visit, so stopping this practice will also help to control insurance costs. Thank you for allowing me to make these suggestions.