By Kelley Weiss
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-558709.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Missouri is extending its Missouri Prescription Drug Plan so consumers can use an online site to find the best drug prices. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.
- - - - -
The state recently launched the Web site, Price Compare, so Missouri residents can log on and check drug costs at nearby pharmacies. To use the site people enter their medication, dosage and home county to find the lowest prices. The site compares costs on commonly prescribed drugs and calculates what an uninsured customer would normally pay without any discounts.
Missouri Department of Social Services spokesperson, Ana Compain-Romero, says this will help people paying full price for drugs find the best deals.
Ana Compain-Romero: "If you can do any price comparison and walk in a better informed consumer it's going to benefit us."
The site provides generic drug options as well that can also save consumers money. It's costing the state $75,000 so far to run the Price Compare Web site, which is an extension of the Missouri Rx Plan created in 2005 to supplement the Medicare Part D Program.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
Download recent health stories or subscribe to the KCUR Health Podcast