LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- DestinationRx and the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest today launched "Beat the Doughnut Hole," a two-month Coverage Gap Awareness Campaign to educate seniors about managing the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole." The doughnut hole refers to the coverage gap phase of Medicare Part D during which enrollees are responsible for the cost of their prescription drugs. During the two-month campaign through the end of September, DestinationRx will sponsor a website called www.PartDOptimizer.com, which will educate seniors about the coverage gap, as well as give them the dose-specific tools to compare and lower their prescription drug costs. The web site is free and available to the public.
"There is a staggering amount of misinformation around Medicare Part D and the doughnut hole," said Bob Goldberg, Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. "Seniors can beat the doughnut hole now by comparing and shopping for lower cost drugs. And by using the Part D optimizer, they can start thinking about which plan to select for 2007 and may be able to avoid the doughnut hole entirely next year by choosing the plan most appropriate for their needs."
"Beat the Doughnut Hole" is a campaign to make Rxaminer's Part D Optimizer available for free to seniors on www.PartDOptimizer.com so they can take proactive steps to minimize their financial exposure. The Part D Optimizer is a drug cost comparison tool. The tool employs a three-step process to help individuals quickly identify lower-cost alternatives to their medications, including plan-preferred options and generics. First, an individual selects his or her plan and enters a medication. Next, a custom report is generated that displays all of the lower-cost prescription drug options available under the member's plan. Finally, the individual brings the report to his or her doctor, who switches the member to a lower-cost medication, as appropriate. DestinationRx has invited all Medicare Part D plans to forward their drug formulary and pricing information for free integration into the tool.
"There are wide variations in the cost of branded alternatives and generics," said Toby Rogers, President of Rxaminer, a division of DestinationRx. "Seniors have the opportunity to create significant savings by comparing alternatives and shopping for the best price. Our goal is to make sure they have free access to the tools necessary to minimize their costs this year and learn how to plan for 2007."
An estimated 3.4 million Americans will experience the Part D coverage gap this year. An unfortunate reality of modern-day healthcare is that doctors often don't have the time to look up their patients' benefits and determine which drug would be most cost-effective for them. The Rxaminer Part D Optimizer is designed to simplify this process. Since January 1, 2004, the tool has helped more than 850,000 individuals save an average of 20 percent on their prescription drug costs, with some saving as much as 80 percent. For example, for three of the major Part D plans, a switch of just one of the top ten most prescribed drugs to a lower priced equivalent can create savings ranging from 46 percent to 98 percent per drug. For seniors who have reached the doughnut hole, especially seniors who take multiple drugs, cost comparing can translate into thousands of dollars.
Detailed price studies are available for local zip codes on request.
About DestinationRx and Rxaminer
Founded in 1999, DestinationRx is a leader in consumer drug comparison and purchasing technology. The company provides government and commercial plan providers with the resources to create fully-integrated and comprehensive decision-support capabilities for their members. DestinationRx is also a leading consumer resource, providing education, price comparisons, and purchasing options for a variety of prescription drug and other healthcare transactions. The company's client roster includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), large health plans, Fortune 100 employers, and advocacy organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). On May 5, 2006, DestinationRx acquired Rxaminer, the first organization to provide consumers with equivalent-dose drug comparison pricing. For more information, visit: www.DestinationRx.com and www.Rxaminer.com.
About the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest
The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is the only institute dedicated to advancing next generation of medicines, promoting policies and activities that encourage medical progress and providing the public with information about the role new patient-centered tools and biomedical innovations will play in making health care more predictive, preventive and personalized. More information about CMPI is available at www.cmpi.org and its health policy blog, www.drugwonks.com.