Compared to small chain pharmacies, retail pharmacy giants like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens offered the lowest cash price for generic drugs according to data published Oct. 1.
The study, conducted by researchers at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital and published in Annals of Internal Medicine, used data from GoodRx to compare cash prices for a one-month supply of 10 generic and six brand-name drugs across different types of retail pharmacies within the same ZIP code.
The results showed a substantial variation in generic drug prices by type of retail pharmacy, according to Medical Xpress. Brand-name drug prices, however, remained consistent across all types of retail pharmacies.
Researchers noted the results did not account for price matching, coupons or any other discount programs.
The study suggests that online access to drug prices specific to a patient's ZIP code may increase patients' choices and save money, especially for the approximately 8 percent of Americans who don't have insurance or those with high deductible health plans.
Read the full article here.
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