PS1-56: Free Generic Medication Programs and the Patients that Take Advantage of Them: A Look at Metformin

摘要

Background/AimsIn 2006, pharmacy retailers began offering low cost generic medications at costs ranging from $4 for a 30-day supply to $10 for a 90-day supply. One is now offering free generic metformin. There are considerable cost savings for patients who take advantage of these programs. However, filling medications at multiple pharmacies could lead to incomplete medication histories within pharmacy and insurance records thus making it difficult identify drug interactions and to address quality initiatives. This study will measure trends in requests for prescriptions to be filled within an integrated health system pharmacy versus an outside pharmacy retailer before and after the availability of free metformin in March 2010. Characteristics of patients who switched from prescriptions for internal fills to external fills after free metformin was available will also be examined.