New vending machine dispenses
Generic Prescription Drugs
03 January, 2006
Rhode Island's largest health
insurer is trying to keep costs down by offering doctors a new vending
machine that dispenses free 30-day samples of generic drugs.
San Diego-based MedVantx, which supplies
the machine, has contracts with health insurance companies in six
other states. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is its
first customer in New England, according to Tuesday's Providence
Journal.
Brand-name drug companies have offered
doctors monthlong samples of their more-expensive products for years.
Dr. Stephen Scott, of Johnston, said one result is that doctors
tend to prescribe brand-name drugs because they can immediately
put a sample in a patient's hand.
Now, doctors at Scott's practice can
walk to the MedVantx Sample Center, a photocopier-sized machine,
and scan a patient's medical records. Seconds later, a drawer pops
open with the free medication.
"It's making life easier for
us," Scott said. "I don't know why anyone didn't think
of this before."
Blue Cross pays MedVantx a fee and
covers the costs of drugs dispensed to Blue Cross subscribers, said
Dan Curran, the health insurer's pharmacy manager. MedVantx pays
for patients who have different health insurance plans or no health
coverage at all.
Six practices in Rhode Island have
been equipped with the machine, and two more are scheduled to get
it next week, Curran said. A dozen more practices are considering
installing it.
"We're just trying to work with
the providers directly, to give them another tool to help patients
to get started on the right therapy," Curran said.
