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Press Releases
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Press ReleaseAmeriHealth New Jersey Promotes Generic Drug Usage Through Free One-Month Generic SamplesEasy to use ATM-type device in doctors' offices to dispense generic drugs Mt. Laurel, NJ - September 6, 2007 - AmeriHealth is offering area doctors a way to dispense free samples of generic drugs in a move to encourage generic drug use and keep down the cost of prescription drugs. Patients receive generic samples for one course of treatment, usually a 30-day supply. AmeriHealth is working with California-based MedVantx, which provides programs that offer generic and over-the-counter drugs as a first-line of therapy. MedVantx has installed automated sample dispensers, ATM-like devices that put a variety of generic medicine samples at the physicians’ fingertips. “Where appropriate, generics are a safe, effective, and less-expensive alternative to brand name drugs,” said Dr. Stephen G. Friedhoff, senior medical director at AmeriHealth. “Generics provide the same therapeutic benefits as their brand-name counterparts, and they meet the same rigorous health and safety standards set by the FDA as the brand-name drugs.” “We’re pleased to partner with MedVantx and work directly with our physicians to give them another tool to help their patients get started right away on the right medication at the right price,” said Judith L. Roman, AmeriHealth president and chief executive officer. “Having generic samples available can lead to higher use of generic drugs, which can result in tremendous savings for our members, and, in the long-run, savings for all of us.” Nationwide, prescription drug costs accounted for 16 cents of the premium dollar in 2005, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers 2006 report, The Factors Fueling Rising Health Care Costs. “Providing free generic samples is our latest customer-focused, cost-saving program to help bring down prescription drug costs, one of the factors that drives premium increases,” Roman added. By offering free generic drug samples for the first month of use, AmeriHealth is promoting generic usage by getting patients started on generic drugs; patients usually continue on initially-selected medication. The samples are intended for one-time use, and not as a “free” pharmacy. Currently, 19 physicians’ practices in New Jersey have the automated sample-dispensing machine, which dispenses 21 of the most common generic medications and two over-the-counter medications. Together 11 different kinds of drugs are represented, including antibiotics and drugs that treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The FDA reports that generic drugs account for about 50 percent of all prescription drug purchases in the United States. Identical in composition and quality to their brand-name counterparts, generic drugs typically cost up to 70 percent less than comparable brand-name drugs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies with no sacrifice in quality. About AmeriHealth New Jersey AmeriHealth New Jersey is part of AmeriHealth, Inc, a growing group of insurance and health care companies whose product portfolio includes health insurance, workers’ compensation, property and casualty, and management services. With its base centered in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, AmeriHealth companies have been recognized for their commitment to providing high quality products. AmeriHealth HMO of New Jersey and Delaware’s AmeriHealth HMO have received the highest possible accreditation by the national leader in HMO quality evaluation. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded both HMOs “Excellent” status for meeting its rigorous evaluation standards.
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