So what does GoodRx have to do with that?
GoodRx requires extra time in the filling process. It's a lot like having patients change their insurance information EVERY time they fill a prescription. The GoodRx information, (BIN, PCN, Group, and ID number) must be added to the patient's profile with each new prescription. Even if that's not really true, patients think so and argue that they want the separate info put in for each prescription. Naturally, patients with regular insurance or the in-house discount only go through this process one time.
Using GoodRx adds time and stress to the burden already experienced by the pharmacy crew to fill prescriptions in minimal time.
When a pharmacy team member spends extra time fussing with GoodRx nonsense the entire crew ends up hurrying with other prescriptions to meet their quota, and THAT compromises patient safety! Essentially what GoodRx is promoting is a "lower" price over patient safety.
Does GoodRx really add time to the process?
Let's examine what I'm talking about. I've had to deal with the nonsense of GoodRx since they've started, and this side by side comparison of with/without is not an exaggeration:
In this illustration the time to fill is more than doubled because of the extra time wasted by the GoodRx "model." Obviously this isn't the case with every prescription, but in every case GoodRx does add time to the filling process. Don't believe me? Ask any pharmacist or technician.
I did on Twitter. This isn't a scientific poll, but clearly it shows that 79% the respondents have experienced an increase in time to fill the prescription:
What makes it worse is the proliferation of OTHER discount cards added to the process. Any pharmacist or pharmacy technician will tell you about patients that bring in two or three (or more) discount cards and ask that each discount be tried for each individual medication. This is extremely time-consuming and tedious. It adds time to the filling process and it takes time away from a technician that could be filling other prescriptions. In reality, the entire discount card nonsense is putting patient safety at risk.
Why is GoodRx not so good for pharmacies?
Todd Pendergraft, an independent pharmacy owner, goes into great detail how these discount cards hurt pharmacy owners. Click to see this VIDEO or watch it here:
Because independent pharmacists feel like they have to take GoodRx to be competitive, they end up losing money. In the case of chain pharmacies, contracts with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) require that pharmacies accept GoodRx as part of their contract agreement.
Does GoodRx (and the other discount cards) really save that much money?
Hundreds of dollars? Really?
No, not really. ABC News 15 news channel did a comparison of savings with these discount cards. The actual savings to consumers averaged 16%, not 80% as GoodRx will tell you. (See LINK).
So let's say for the average person the average cash price of a medication is $30. That's actually high. The average cash outlay per person for an average selection of medications is about $150 per year (See LINK). But let's go with the $30. At 16% that's a whopping savings of $4.80... as I said, over and over, it's just a few bucks.
Is it really worth overworking the pharmacy staff and jeopardizing patient safety for a few bucks?
There will be more about GoodRx in tomorrow's blog post Not-so-GoodRx Part II.
Here's the LINK.
49 comments:
rarely do i get the coupon at the drop off window. its usually at the pick up counter once everything is done and they do not want to go to the drop off window to have a different tech to assist. they want it done then right there, and the whole time the line just gets get longer and longer......
The ironic part is the people in line get upset its taking so long, then when they get to the front, they have their own GoodRx coupon. FML!
I was really with you for a good chunk of your post but you lost me when you said the average medication costs $30. Anytime I've had an issue with my insurance and offered to pay cash and get reimbursed from insurance later the cash price has been $100+ even for a two week supply and that is of various meds. I find it hard to believe the average med is $30.
Meds I believe I've had this issue with:
Protonix (over 5 years ago)
Pentasa
Albuteral
Adderall generic (leaving aside the side eye for offering to pay cash. Glad I know longer need it.)
Also pet meds that humans also take:
Tramadol
Lantus
First, train people who work the drop-off window to ASK if the client has any coupons, also making the comment that if they don't tell the pharmacy in advance, they can't use them when they pick up. (And the hell with a complaint and gift card. Save yourself first.)
Second, the real problem is not that there are coupons, it is that your managers do not factor in extra-time issues when evaluating metrics. You really can't expect people who are using a coupon to save money to decide instead that your pharmacy's profit, your workload and the potential safety of strangers should persuade them to discontinue use of a discount service. If you want to discourage use of gift cards, you have to provide incentive, like the prescription automatically takes longer, or there is a surcharge for extra processing. As to complaining customers, I, personally, always dealt with them by repeatedly saying "I absolutely agree with you!" (until they stopped, no matter what they complained out) "Here is my manager's email address and corporate address. You should write to him because you make excellent points!" It diffuses their need to whine because you've been sympathetic and transfers the annoyance to your manage, who deserves it because he allows you to be overwhelmed and stressed by complaints about things you have no control over.
you can ask for the copupon at the drop off window all you want. they usually dont have one and you just gave them the idea to go get one, or they left it at home and will bring it back. my favorite is when they left it in the car and are too lazy to go get it right now.
the whole promise of save 'up to 80%' is a crock of bullshit, too. rarely have i seen any discount coupon save the customer more than what i was willing to charge as the 'friends and family' price. if you go to one of the big 3 chains (big greedy, big liar, big stupid) you might see some savings off of their over inflated cash prices. but if you deal with your local independent pharmacist you will always get a good cash price in addition to the best service and all your pharmacy related health information will still be protected.
My husband and I save about $2000.00 a year with the discount cards. We use about 3. Once they're in the system they don't have to keep putting in the info.
I have a high deductible plan and was told by my Pharmacy that the Modafinil I was prescribed would cost 285 Dollars. My GF said to try GoodRx at a different Pharmacy. The tech there said they would run it through Well Rx instead. I paid 25 Dollars, over 90% off. Worth it? YES!
Do the Pharmacies lose profit from these coupons or is it the drug maker?
So my Rx was over $71. Using my Good Rx card was roughly $30.
So I shouldn't save money because it inconveniences the pharmacist? Therefore he/she could screw up my medicine because they are overworked due to the input of my coupon code? I'm sorry but that is pathetic. Then perhaps you could pay for my drugs. I apologize if I have read this incorrectly but it sounds to me like the pharmacists are whining about their job. That is not my problem, but being able to afford my medications are my problem.
Good RX is another tool used by the PBMs to destroy competition. Eventually all that will be left is CVS, Walgreens and Walmart
I've used GoodRX twice so far for two different medications. The first would have cost me $110 but with the GoodRX card it was $32. The second listed for $396 but with the card was just $22. No real savings you say? I beg to differ...
agreed. I get a charge of 170 for a month of generic
Obviously this was Written before the Rx companies started raising prices. I get a generic for 26 with GOODRX and full retail for 30 days the GENERIC is 175$.
Blah blah blah Batman. I use a GoodRx card or actually it is a phone app and it is cheaper than using my insurance it saves me on average of $900 a year using the GoodRx app so I don't care what you say it does save you money I admit it does take more time but you know they need more pharmacist behind the counter except for one overworked young girl that doesn't know her butt from a hole in the ground. That's just my opinion
Very true all you have to put them in the system as one time and they are in
I just found out that my pharmacy was just looking up the price on the goodrx website and has not been giving me the good rx gold prices. So even though they been doing the goodrx they have still screwed me. Furthermore, if they are so bent out of shape because they cant charge you a car payment for your meds, maybe they should do something like COMPETE FOR YOUR BUSINESS like in capitalism.
Sometimes the pharmacy will say let's see if we have this and come back saying they have to order it in, and it will be a week to fill it. That is their nice way of saying no to you.
Blaming the customer for wanting to save money by saying they're directly risking the safety of others because the pharmacist is too busy to do his job safely. You need some Pepto to limit the amount of bullshit coming out of your ass on this one.
I have to use the goodrx until my insurance kicks in this January 2020.. I hope they don't give me any issues.. And I am adhd, ptsd, depression I've been off the meds for like 3 years and I've been slowly getting worse.. I've always had. A bunch of issues with Walgreens but I'm really hoping today won't be that day...i even decided I'd pay more because Walgreens was closer to me.. 15$ more than I would have have CVS. And all retail associates feel this pain..with the codes, coupons and phones but they should be fine since typing is a must in their job position.. Gtfoh
Sorry, but not sorry! One of my prescriptions varies from 700.00 to 3200.00 depending on where I fill it. Using my good rx gold card gets my medication for 78.00. I'm not sorry! I'm raising adopted children as a single parent and often have to choose between buying groceries to feed my children or buying medication. The food for my children always wins hands down! Until I got goodrx gold I never could afford to take my medications. So I'm not sorry! I'm thankful for good rx gold!
I have stopped using my medical insurance because with GoodRx I get a 90-day supply for slightly less than 1-month's copay would be using my insurance.
Without goodrx I would not be able to afford my prescription, even in its generic form. Sick and poor people absolutely do not care that we slightly inconvenience you. This blog comes off as being really classist/privileged and out of touch with the average person.
Hats off to PBMs for requiring you to take the discount cards. I had a dog with glaucoma and those coupons saved me a ton of money. Seriously, hundreds of dollars. And, guess what? The pharmacy techs HELPED ME USE THEM. They would call another local pharmacy and ask for their price if the price on the drug at their pharmacy was crazy high. And would then transfer the prescription if necessary. That is what I call customer service. As for your claim that we are trading patient safety for a couple of dollars, in my experience the tech rang up my prescription and the pharmacist filled it. The pharmacist had zero contact at all with the process of using GoodRx. And, many people without insurance, those with high copays or drugs not covered by their insurance struggle each month to afford their medication. Every little bit helps. It appears that you are putting your bottom line ahead of people's health. And I notice you are only attacking pharmacy discount cards. You didn't mention manufacturer coupons. When you have a tier 3 drug copay of $100 or more and the manufacturer coupon takes that down to $15, it absolutely saves you hundreds of dollars a year.
I'm researching GoodRX Never used it. In my research I never realized that Pharmacists and Techs sound like they are the most discontented, whiny bunch on the planet. If it were not for we patients who need meds that must be dispensed through a pharmacy by a pharmacists, the latter would not have a job. Hey pharmacists...news flash...you chose an occupation that serves the public. Recommend, if you don't like pharmacy work, then get a different occupation. Perhaps some solitary job away from people. Get a grip folks!
Lialda, Prednisone,entyvio,tramadol, promethazine, hydroxyzine, bental. Several thousand dollars worth of meds right there. Imagine dealing with a life long condition. I'm out of work lost my insurance and good Rx has been helping me out. Tramadol was 60 I got it for 10. Promethazine 70 got it for 11.
I just went to Rite Aid to fill my husband's nausea script. He is starting chemo. We don't have prescription insurance. The price at the Rite Aid Pharmacy for the drug was 300.00. With the GoodRx coupon, used at Meijer Pharmacy, the price is 20.00. That is more than a few dollars.
Cvs charges me well over $700 for one month of my prescription & I have carefirst blue cross insurance. GoodRX currently charges me under $40 for the same thing but I have to use a different pharmacy, ( not Walgreens or Walmart. I’m searching the internet to figure how it is possible. It seems like there must be some price gouging or other corruption in the insurance industry. (I am actually a little afraid to post this because I need this medication to live). I think this guy’s complaint of “Over worked / might make a mistake” has little to do with anything...
Is China selling at a loss to try and bankrupt their American competition? or Is a supplier selling un-regulated North Korean knock offs? or something worse. Note: The medication definitely works.
Good rx saves me $300 a month. Good rx is just trying to fix the mess insurance and our healthcare system has created. You’re right that there is a major problem for the pharmacists (maybe convince Managment to hire more techs) but the problem isn’t goodrx
30 pills of 10mg generic Cialis at Kroger: $2164.49 with no insurance. with GoodRx coupon (no insurance used): $29.99. Insurance would only let me have 4 pills at a time, even though the prescription was for 30. Most medicine doesn't have that insane of a cost saving, but wow. From now on I am checking GoodRx as a possible alternative to my insurance for those rare expensive meds which may have weird restrictions from insurance. CVS didn't have a good price on GoodRx but Kroger & a few others did. The crazy thing is, the person who told me about GoodRx was the CVS pharmacist. It boggles the mind how there can be a 72x price difference for the same item!! $72 per pill vs $1
Prescription drugs are a rip off, not getting a discount because of some false threat of decreased safety wont stop people from using them.(you should always double check that the pills in the bottle are correct) It's the pharmacists job to count out the right medication. if they don't like taking the coupons they should stop honoring them.
What a bunch of crap! If pharmacists and pharmacist's assistants are overworked and are unable to perform their jobs properly because of Good RX, they should hire more pharmacists and techs or else they should not participate in the Good Rx program. The fact that are even able to offer these steep discounts just shows the enormous profits to pharmacies and how out-of-control the industry is. Not to mention that the insurance companies also benefit because in many cases the Good Rx price is much lower than the copay would have been if the customer used insurance.
Well, since you care so much about profit (as defined by your employer)and patient safety, might I suggest your employer fire everyone except for one 20 something tech just for show because your entire function can be automated. Yeah, there's the upfront capital, but easy ROI once you get the systems down. Profit!
Dare you to post this.
And btw, I'm a manufacturing engineer, automating your profession is a no brainer, the only pain is the crazy of insurance.
Reading your post was interesting and relevant to me as I see this drug given for patient's with pain in the ED sometimes. I wonder how chirality of compounds can influence addiction. Adderall is one of the most popular medicines to treat ADHD. Doctors usually prescribe:
Adderall 10mg
buy adderall online
Other quiries:
can i buy adderall online
online pharmacy adderall generic
buy adderall online
how to get adderall
buy adderall black market
buy adderall no prescription
how to get an adderall prescription
buy adderall in spain
adderall bestellen online
adderall for sale near me
how to get adderall in china
how to buy adderall online
buy stimulants online
Reading your post was interesting and relevant to me as I see this drug given for patient's with pain in the ED sometimes. I wonder how chirality of compounds can influence addiction. Adderall is one of the most popular medicines to treat ADHD. Doctors usually prescribe:
Adderall 10mg
buy adderall online
Other quiries:
can i buy adderall online
online pharmacy adderall generic
buy adderall online
how to get adderall
buy adderall black market
buy adderall no prescription
how to get an adderall prescription
buy adderall in spain
adderall bestellen online
adderall for sale near me
how to get adderall in china
how to buy adderall online
buy stimulants online
BOO-HOO! What about all those uninsured patients who are too hard up to afford a lot of their medicines, who would otherwise be suffering without GoodRx.com as an alternative way to get their medicine? All you can think about is the "pain" you have to go through to input their data into your computer. Where is your compassion, man? People are prescribed medicines because they need the treatment.
Sure, you're overworked, but that is not the fault of your clients who are getting some financial relief on their prescriptions. The ton of clerical work you have to do is the fault of the government agencies that regulate the pharmaceutical industry.
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
I can sympathize w/ what your saying,But until you or another pharmacy or tech can pay for my med's then I will continue w/ GOOD RX .just one of my med's are
$1200.00 for a 3 month supply.versus the 40 $ thru GOOD RX so thank you but NO THANK YOU !!
Completely over exaggerated. I use to be a tech and adding that info would add no more than 5 minutes. The other time added by customer complaining, calling goodrx etc is a tad embellished.
Why not just offer the lowest price to your customers from the start. If Good Rx has a program that can check other pharmacy prices then just check the Good Rx prices to set your prices. That would be offering a valuable cost savings service for the people that help you stay in business.
Yeh, your supposed inside problem is not the patients problem who is getting ripped off with prices they can't afford...Why not just give them the Good Rx price if you are trying to be so helpful...The real question is, "if a drug is $100 WITH their insurance(and you balance bill tier carrier), who is subsidizing the difference if with Good Rx they then pay $18"...Don't tell me it's only $18 plus whatever you really bill to the insurance carrier...Remember Gordon Gecko, "Greed is Good!"Since it's third party, and the only skin in the game the patient has is the price HE?SHE have to shell out! Service? Service means getting the patient the best deal, but then that's a conflict with your corporate policies!
Thank you!! This article made me so mad. Sounds like it was written by a pharmacy tech that needs a day off
Can't say I ever have the actual pharmacist handle my dropoff/good rx info. 99% of the time its a pharmacy tech not the pharmacist. So in my opinion, that voids almost ALL of the points that it takes the "pharmacist" longer. How is that so if they're not handling the GoodRX side on these major pharmacies?
Really. Are we supposed to listen to this whining and carrying on because a pharmacist doesn't want to bother with his customers questions? You're a pharmacist-- that's what you do. If the drug situation has become more complex, you should pull your pants up and pull your weight. Hire more people. Online retailers and the big pharmacies are overpowering the little ones, I know. That's unfortunate, but you aren't the only profession that is suffering.
And, furthermore, your disdain for your customers shows in their supposed "lecturing to you about the high prices of drugs" Wanna be competitive?? Learn to listen and be compassionate to your customers too.
You may need expensive drugs someday. What, you're gonna hock them from your own pharmacy for free? I don't think so.
The pharmacists and technicians do not set the prices of medications. It does take a few minutes to enter new discount card information and then transmit to the payor. The pharmacists check the medication against the prescription to make sure it is not going to harm the patient. If you come to pick up a prescription and want to use a discount card after the order is complete, just go to the drop off window first so the card info can be entered and transmitted to get the price. The new paperwork can be printed before you get to the pick up window. As a pharmacy technician I want you in and out as soon as possible so you can begin feeling better. I've had to wait at pharmacies also. Oh.. when your doctor tells you they sent your prescription to the pharmacy, be aware it is not instantly transmitted. It goes into a queue. Your doctor does not work at the pharmacy and doesn't know how long it will take to get ready or how much it will cost.
It is an inconvenience when Karen with her 8 meds comes through and wants goodrx on each individual medication to be checked. Oh she is also in the drivethrough with her newest iphone and Escalade with her three brats that wont shut up.
GoodRx is a discount card and GoodRx Gold is basically a pharmacy insurance that you, yourself as an individual has to pay for the benefit of a greater discount. It’s a paid membership so I don’t think any pharmacy is going to pay for your membership so you can get more of a discount.
How bout you stop whining and just do your job. A lot of people has hard jobs But they don’t cry about it. I’ll go to 3 different apps just to see if I can get it cheaper.
Yeah, it’s a problem. Because that card you want to save money with that you don’t pay a dime for, charges my pharmacy money to use it, on top of making us charge you close to or under cost. My overhead to run my pharmacy for ONE hour a day costs over $200 an hour. So no, I’m not going to waste my time on that card to save you a few dollars. Especially when if you used an independent pharmacy in the first place, you wouldn’t be paying those exorbitant prices to begin with. Chain stores have quotas to make for their corporate offices to drive their Bentleys and have their summer homes on remote islands. Independent pharmacies are trying to give a handful of employees a comfortable life without all those extravagances
I work in a small retail pharmacy and most Good Rx prices don't make the pharmacy any money. Actually it costs the owner/ pharmacist money to fill those scripts. If you shopped locally you would get a much better cash price and better customer service.
My savings is over 300.00, and 60 more off since joining good rx gold for 30 day free trial then only 5.99 a month, otherwise I would not be able to afford my meds. Only thing there is some little glitch that the cvs pharmacy associates are having to get coached on and has caused all the extra time and has caused me to have to accept the overcharge until good rx can call and the actual pharmacist has actually keyed it in..... drama..but for the huge savings I have to say its mandatory and well worth the jive once monthly...
Post a Comment