Drug product selection: the Florida experience

Abstract

Drug product selection, the act of selecting and dispensing a lower cost generically equivalent product to that prescribed, is made possible in 46 states through recently enacted legislation. Florida's legislation is unique in that it requires pharmacists to product select under certain circumstances. This study reports on the results of a review of the Florida experience approximately one year after enactment of its drug product selection legislation. Nearly 132,000 prescriptions were sampled from 60 pharmacies during a four-month study period. This represents one per cent of all new prescriptions in the state and a three per cent sample of community pharmacies. Study results indicate that drug product selection on the average saves the consumer $1.92 per prescription. Further, under the provisions of this law the majority of cost savings (average reductions in acquisition costs between prescribed and dispensed products) are being passed along as savings to the consumer. During the four-month study period this amounted to a total prescription cost savings of nearly $425,000. Drug product selection occurs in approximately two per cent of all new prescriptions which compares favorably with results reported from other states but also suggests that additional savings can be realized under such legislation.