Good care is more than cheap pills

Area pharmacist started generic drug plan a year ahead of Wal-Mart

By Charlie Mathews
Herald Times Reporter

TWO RIVERS — Wal-Mart's recent announcement it would slash the prices of about 300 generic drugs to $4 a month at its Tampa Bay-area stores did not catch Brian Jensen off guard.

As I've talked about my '1-Price Prescription Drug Plan' around the state or country, I wouldn't be surprised if Wal-Mart heard about it," said Jensen, a pharmacist, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy owner, and former president of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.

In May 2005, the local businessman unveiled a plan enabling patients to purchase about 100 medications at uniform prices of $16, $26, $36 and $46, depending on quantity.

"I thought there had to be a way to get appropriately-priced medications to patients in a way that they can afford it ... with the service they need and don't get through the mail or Internet," Jensen said.

Ray Kessenich, 75, Two Rivers, is one of about 300 individuals who've enrolled in Jensen's plan.

"I have no insurance coverage," said Kessenich, who takes Lisinopril, Toprol and Zocor to lower his cholesterol and help control high blood pressure.

"Some of my meds I get from the Veterans Administration pharmacy in Milwaukee and some from Brian, because they're cheaper than from the VA," Kessenich said.

"The joy I have is maintaining a relationship with Ray, and finding ways to meet his needs," Jensen said.

Many of his Medicine Shoppe customers are created through Jensen's "Senior Day," where people are encouraged to bring in all their pill bottles each Wednesday.

Prescription cost analysis

Jensen and his pharmacists analyze what drugs are being taken for what conditions, and explore whether generic equivalents or brand name drugs might be appropriate as part of an "Economic Prescription Analysis."

Consumers are increasingly turning to generic drugs, which often are made by multiple companies after the original patent on the medicines expire.

The average monthly cost for a generic drug prescription is $28.74, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. For branded drugs, that figure is $96.01.

Unlike Wisconsin 's Senior Care drug program or Medicare Part D, Jensen's generic prescription club has no age or financial eligibility criteria, with no co-pays and no insurance forms.

Jensen said the generic drugs in his plan cost about the same from his pharmaceutical wholesalers.

While there are fixed costs associated with dispensing a drug, it is less expensive and more efficient for Jensen to dispense the drug one to four times a year, rather than 12.

Kessenich purchased 360 Lisinopril tablets, a long-term maintenance drug, at an average cost of $3.83 a month with no need to go back to the pharmacy every four weeks.

Wal-Mart's announcement, including its intent to go national in 2007 with its price plan, "hit a nerve," Jensen said. Target announced it would immediately match Wal-Mart's lower prices.

"But you can't just talk about price. Cheap pills in bottles don't deliver health care," Jensen said.

Physicians are part of a team approach Jensen said. They are the ones, after all, who write the prescriptions.

Patients, consulting with their Lakeshore area physicians and pharmacists "creates local solutions and those are good solutions," Jensen said.

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