1-Aug-12 1:00 PM CST

A Look at Doctor Dispensed Medications

Doctors have been dispensing medications for some time now and the prices per pill for those medications can vary greatly depending on whether a doctor is doing the dispensing or a pharmacy is completing dispensing to patients. States around the country are still adopting or debating new regulations regarding doctor dispensed drugs. A recent study titled Physician Dispensing in Workers’ Compensation looks at physician dispensing prior to and after a 2007 change in the state of California law that governed drug prices paid to doctors that dispense different medications. Doctors charged higher prices for medications they gave out before the 2007 law. One of the many issues concerning doctors dispensing Rx’s is a concern that physicians would stop giving out meds if the practice made less of a profit. Here is a look at some of the other concerns the study found:

1. Spending might increase on prescription drugs if a doctor dispensed reform law was put into effect in other states.

2. Doctors would dispense less expensive generic counterparts instead of name brand drugs as where pharmacies dispense both generics and legend drugs. The study also found that when specific medications were prescribed that generics were dispensed instead of name brand drugs.

“There is a great discrepancy between what doctors and pharmacies charge for dispensing the same drug,” observed Dr. Richard Victor, Worker’s Compensation Research Institute’s Executive Director. “One question for policymakers is whether the large price difference paid when physicians dispense is justified by the benefits of physician dispensing. Policymakers can learn from the California experience” also said Victor.

As a pharmacy technician what do you think of physicians dispensing drugs from their office? Is it a fair practice?

Sources:

1. Kenneally, Andrew. “New Regulations Limit The Prices For Doctor-Dispensed Rx And Reduce Costs, But Unlikely To Reduce Patient Access.” WCRI. Print. 19 July 2012.

2. Silverman, Ed. “Profiting From Pills: Should Doctors Dispense.” Pharmalot.com. Web. 13 July 2012.

3. Barry Meier and Katie Thomas. “Insurers Pay Big Markups As Doctors Dispense Drugs.” New York Times. Web. 11 July 2012.