Trump Rx: Does it really save you money?

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

On February 5^, the Trump Rx website launched. The site has been promoted for months by President Donald Trump at every opportunity as the greatest option for prescription drug savings.

The site is a result of multiple healthcare initiatives and polices aimed at reducing prescription drug prices during President Donald Trump’s presidency.

One of the greater initiatives was the proposed “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) clause, which aimed to ensure that Medicare pays no more for specific drugs than the lowest price that other countries pay. The policy intends to leverage international price differences to lower costs for Americans.

The website comes with many promises of cheaper medication, comparing its drug pricing to that of Canada. “Introducing Most-Favored-Nation pricing, guaranteeing huge savings for Americans.”

But does it really deliver?

At launch, the website only includes 40 popular and expensive brand medications, with promises to add more in the future. Each drug includes a process to print or save to your phone, a coupon to be used at the pharmacy, or a phone number for the manufacturer.

The medication screen specifically states that to qualify for the price listed, you cannot be enrolled in any federal, state, or government-funded healthcare program, including Medicaid and Medicare. Once you read through the qualifications, you must accept them in order to receive the medication card, which can only be used for a specified number of refills.

Some medications list an 800 number to call the manufacturer to deliver your medication directly.

We searched out three medications and compared them against prices in widely used pharmacies.

 

Insulin Lispro -Eli Lilly® – 1 vial of 10 mL with 100 units/mL $25 (original price listed $25)

Good Rx lists – Walmart $34.11; Costco $35.95; Walgreens $43.35; CVS $51.24

 

Azulfidine Sulfasalazine from Pfizer® – tablet – 500mg /180 – $149.40 (original price listed $298)

Good Rx lists – Walgreens, Kroger, CVS, Walmart, and Costco at $149.40.

 

Eucrisa from Pfizer® – tube of ointment – 20 mg – $158.48 (original price listed $792.40)

Good Rx lists – Walgreens, Kroger, CVS, and Walmart at $158.48

 

Facts

 A fact sheet from the White House introducing TrumpRx lists the following:

• Today’s launch features drugs made by the first five manufacturers to reach MFN pricing deals with the Trump Administration: AstraZeneca®, Eli Lilly®, EMD Serono®, Novo Nordisk®, and Pfizer®.
• Additional drugs from other companies that have signed MFN pricing deals will be made available through gov in the coming months.
• Depending on the manufacturer of a given drug, patients with valid prescriptions will be able to access savings through user-friendly coupons that can be printed or downloaded onto their phones or through channels set up by the manufacturer and integrated into gov.

Conclusion

 After reviewing the website and comparing several medications, Trump Rx could yield savings for those without insurance or any form of medical and drug coverage. However, individuals currently enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare, or other government programs, will find the offerings unavailable to them. Additionally, those with employer insurance may or may not benefit from the site, depending on their specific drug benefits.

As more medications are added, the website may improve. However, at its launch, it appears that the elderly population, who desperately need lower medication costs, may not benefit significantly.