Medco Offers Tool to Compare Drug Prices

Available through http://www.medco.com , the tool provides users with a menu of medication choices starting with the lowest-cost medication alternative including generics and preferred brand-name drugs and is based on their personal drug benefit coverage, according to a Medco announcement.

To use Savings Advisor, members enter a medication into the search function or choose from a list of medications generated from their prescription drug history. The search function presents a table listing all of the appropriate, equivalent dose, lower-cost medications covered by their drug plan, including brand-name alternatives, generic equivalents and alternatives, mail/retail prices and, in some cases, even over-the-counter options, the announcement said.

Savings Advisor also provides easy-to-understand clinical information about each drug, as well as plan-specific rules for a particular medication, such as whether prior authorization is required. Members can print a hard copy of the options, with pricing information, to take with them to discuss with their doctor. A fax form is included for the doctor to fill out and submit to Medco in the event the physician decides to choose an alternative.

Savings Advisor is available to Medco members, including Medicare Part D customers and members with a consumer-directed pharmacy plan.