New drug cards falling short? Online pharmacies still beat discount prices

[CShine]

WASHINGTON -- Prices for Lipitor, Celebrex and other popular brand-name medicines offered by Medicare's new drug discount cards are no better than those that consumers can find, without discounts, from online pharmacies. The drugs are cheaper still in Canada.

Medicare began posting drug prices on its Web site Thursday, allowing people to compare the new Medicare-approved discount drug cards and decide which offer the best prices.

Mark McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said consumers can find "significant price reductions off typical retail prices." Democrats said the savings claimed by the administration would be eaten up by drug price increases that far outpace inflation.

About half of the 40 national and 32 regional cards were included in the initial listing of prescription drug prices. Medicare said it will update the site every Monday. The same information can be obtained by calling 1-800-Medicare.

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E2117432,00.html

[denverbill]

1. I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED I TELL YOU!

Gee, the new 'prescription drug card' is a govt paid 'People's Prescrition Card', which saves you 5% if you buy your drugs at People's Pharmacy, whose prices were coincidentally increased 5%.

Drug companies must be having a pretty good laugh over that one.