Work

Variation in Drug Prices at Pharmacies: Are Prices Higher in Poorer Areas?

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether retail prices for prescription drugs are higher in poorer areas. DATA SOURCES: The MyFloridarx.com website, which provides retail prescription prices at Florida pharmacies, and median ZIP code income from the 2000 Census. STUDY DESIGN: We compared mean pharmacy prices for each of the four study drugs across ZIP code income groups. Pharmacies were classified as either chain pharmacies or independent pharmacies. DATA COLLECTION: Prices were downloaded in November 2006. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Across the four study drugs, mean prices were highest in the poorest ZIP codes: 9 percent above the statewide average. Independent pharmacies in the poorest ZIP codes charged the highest mean prices. CONCLUSIONS: Retail prescription prices appear to be higher in poorer ZIP codes of Florida.

Source: Health Services Research

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2008.00917.x

Authors: Walid F. Gellad, Niteesh K. Choudhry, Mark W. Friedberg, M. Alan Brookhart, Jennifer S. Haas, William H. Shrank

Institutions: RAND Corporation, University of Pittsburgh, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, No poverty

Open Access status: green