By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-970014.mp3
Buffalo, NY – For Western New Yorkers struggling to pay the high cost of prescription medications, relief could be in sight sometime this year. A Univera Healthcare report predicts a $900 million annual savings on new generic medicines for Upstate New York
Dr. Joel Owerbach is vice president and chief pharmacy officer for Univera. Between this year and 20 12, more than 40-brand name drugs patens will expire. That means they could become available in their generic form for consumers sometime this year.
"Kind of a brand patten expatriation tsunami we haven't seen something like this since 2006," said Owerbach.
The prescription drugs include well-known cholesterol lowering drugs and a popular bronchial medication.
"We are looking at probably half of the top ten drug list, there often household names. Drugs like Lipitor, Plaid, Singular, Lexipro for example. These are all drugs that can be heavily advertised, people are familiar with them and they general have huge impacts for it. Lipitor, could become generically available as soon as November 2011," said Owerbach.
Owerbach said given the tough economy some consumers are making a choice between buying food and their medicine.
"They're stopping medicine. They're skipping fills. They're skipping doses. The end result of that, people are not getting the value and the intent of the medication. Their conditions may be progressing or getting worse. That could not only add discomfort, but impacts peoples health impacts how they can be productive at work and it can impact overall health care costs," said Owerbach.
Prescription drug spending is about 15 to 17% of health coverage premiums. And it's important to note just how much these drugs are being used in Upstate New York. Univera says more than 150,000 take Lipitor. More than 100,000 are using Singulair and 80,000 are taking Plavix.
This potential access to affordable medicine could be a huge benefit for low-income consumers and senior citizens.