MN553 Unit 2 Assignment 2
Unit 2 Assignment Directions
Choose one prescription drug that has a generic available (the pharmacy MUST sell both the generic and the brand of the chosen drug) and one over-the-counter (OTC) drug you would be likely to recommend to patients. Next locate one pharmacy from each of the four different types listed below:
- Large chain pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, Eckard’s, etc.
- Grocery store associate pharmacies such as Publix, Kroger, etc.
- Privately owned local pharmacy
- Pharmacy associated with a “big box” store such as Target, Walmart, etc.
Do not use any drugs on the pharmacy’s four dollar or other special price list. If the pharmacy has a “club card,” coupons or other special way of getting lower cost, do not use this cost. The cost you are examining is the “cash price” for uninsured patients.
Compare the cash cost of the brand and the generic of the prescription drug, and the OTC drug brand and generic making sure that the dose (milligrams, micrograms, etc.), form (caps, tablets, etc.), and number of pills are the same. (Example: Synthroid .05 milligrams and levothyroxine .05 milligrams, prescription for 30 pills. Tylenol 500 mg. and Acetaminophen 500mg, 100 gel caps.)
Include the city and state of the pharmacies.
Submission
The assignment can be in any form you choose including narrative, table, etc. No cover page or reference page is required. Here is a sample table:
| Cash Price at Pharmacy A Address | Cash Price at Pharmacy B Address | Cash Price at Pharmacy C Address | Cash Price at Pharmacy D Address | |
| Brand name Rx | ||||
| Generic RX | ||||
| OTC Brand | ||||
| OTC Generic |
To view the Grading Rubric for this Assignment, please visit the Grading Rubrics submodule under Course Resources.
Assignment Requirements:
Before finalizing your work, you should:
- Read the Assignment description carefully (as displayed above); and consult the Grading Rubric (under Course Resources) to make sure you have included everything necessary.
Part 2 – paper – I page
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 3 resources for free or reduced cost medications.
Also read: MN553 Unit 4 Assignment Case Study
Rubric Title: MN553 Unit 2 Assignment 2 Rubric
| Assignment Criteria | Level III | Level II | Level I | Not Present |
| Criteria 1 | Level III Max Points Points: 10 | Level II Max Points Points: 8 | Level I Max Points Points: 6 | Not Present 0 Points |
| Types of dispensing agencies | Identifies four different types of pharmacies and their location | Identifies three different types of pharmacies and their location | Identifies 1-2 types of pharmacies and their location | Does not meet the criteria |
| Criteria 2 | Level III Max Points Points: 10 | Level II Max Points Points: 8 | Level I Max Points Points: 6 | Not Present 0 Points |
| Brand and generic costs for a prescription drug Comparison | Compares four brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Compares three brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Compares 1-2 brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Does not meet the criteria |
| Criteria 3 | Level III Max Points Points: 10 | Level II Max Points Points: 8 | Level I Max Points Points: 6 | Not Present 0 Points |
| Brand and generic costs for an over-the counter drug Comparison | Compares four brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Compares three brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Compares 1-2 brand and generic costs from four pharmacies | Does not meet the criteria |
| Maximum Total Points | 30 | 24 | 18 | 0 |
| Minimum Total Points | 25 points minimum | 19 points minimum | 1 point minimum | 0 |
Rubric Title: MN553 Unit 3 Assignment Rubric
Unit 2 Assignment Sample Solution
Abilify S Aripiprazole and Acetaminophen Vs. Tylenol in four US pharmacies
| Walgreens 1189 Potrero Ave., San Francisco CA 94110 | Kroger 1800 Folsom St, San Francisco CA 94103 | Albertson’s 2400 W Commonwealth Ave Alhambra, CA 9180394609 US | Target 789 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103-3132 | |
| Abilify (10mg, 30 tabs) | $517.05 | $615.24 | $505.20 | $556.30 |
| Aripiprazole (10mg, 30 tabs) | $358.71 | $399.75 | $308.63 | $333.54 |
| Tylenol (500mg) | $14.85 | $10.40 | $14.15 | $8.79 |
| Acetaminophen (500mg) | $5.99 | $5.10 | $7.59 | $6.99 |
Part 2
The US government uses trillions every year on prescription drugs. Medication costs may be significantly high for the uninsured, and there is a need to reduce costs, especially for the uninsured. King et al. (2019) state that coupon savings are a practical way of saving on drug costs. Pharmacies such as Walmart and Walgreens offer huge discounts for drugs, and these drugs can be sold for as low as four dollars. GoodRx is also a good coupon saving for prescription drugs and helps reduce drug costs significantly. However, the method is unreliable because it is inconsistent and unpredictable.
Rajkumar (2020) states that high drug costs mainly result from monopolies in drug production. The development of non-profit generic manufacturing companies owned by the state is a good strategy for reducing drug costs. Generic drugs are the preferred medication by most insurance plans, and they have significantly lower costs than the brand drugs (Rajkumar, 2020). Brand drugs are expensive, yet they contain similar components to generic drugs. The healthcare provider can prescribe generic medication to reduce costs. Drugs in the same class can have variable costs. Westerholf et al. (2022) note that different medications with similar efficacies can have different costs, and a healthcare provider can prescribe the cheaper drug to save on costs.
In addition, different pharmacies have different prices, as seen above. Some pharmacies have high prices, which can be almost twice that of others. Choosing a different pharmacy for the preferred drug is vital and can help save on costs (Rikhi, 2021). The process can be tiresome because drugs have different costs in different locations, even for the same store. For example, Kroger pharmacy has the cheapest acetaminophen drugs, and Target has the most affordable price for Tylenol. As a healthcare provider, guiding the patient to acquire the drug from the cheapest pharmacy is integral to reducing medication costs. A keen analysis is thus integral before prescribing drugs for uninsured patients. These methods discussed can help lower drug costs for uninsured patients. A healthcare provider can discuss with their patient to determine the best methods to use to reduce drug costs.
References
King, G. J., Chao, X., & Duenyas, I. (2019). Who benefits when prescription drug manufacturers offer copay coupons? Management Science, 65(8), 3758-3775. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3123
Rajkumar, V. S. (2020). The high cost of prescription drugs: causes and solutions. Blood Cancer Journal, 10(6), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000002604
Rikhi, R. (2019). Transparency of medication costs: A method of building patient trust. Academic Medicine, 94(5), 615. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-020-0338-x
Westerhof, L., Misher, A., & Fulbright, A., (2022). Pharmacist Strategies for Addressing Medication Cost Barriers to Equitable Health in Primary Care. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1648