Excerpt: WSJ Drug pricing example abi

[cigafred]

A monthly prescription for prostate-cancer drug Zytiga costs about $118 on Cuban’s website, compared with $4,195 through Cigna, $2,056 through CVS and $205 through UnitedHealth.

A nonprofit launched its own generic version of Zytiga last year.

CivicaScript, a nonprofit founded by hospitals, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and other insurers to reduce drug costs, launched its own generic version of Zytiga last year for the equivalent of about $142 per prescription.

Yet it found very few specialty pharmacies willing to carry it, said Allan Coukell, senior vice president for public policy at Civica Rx, the parent of CivicaScript.

Part of the problem is that Zytiga is sold through specialty pharmacies, the majority of which are owned by PBMs, Coukell wrote in a March letter to the Senate Finance Committee, which is investigating PBMs.

“The same entity that is theoretically working on behalf of health plans, consumers, and Medicare to reduce drug costs also has an incentive to maximize its revenues from dispensing,” Coukell wrote.

[Magnus1964]

It's all about the Benjamins.

[cujoe]

ciga - For 2023 Part D I chose the cheapest plan available (as a placeholder) and have used Scriptco. You can use their quarterly or yearly plan. (Generics only) I just refilled all three 90-day scripts I currently use to carry me through end of year and cancelled my membership until I need more/other meds.

Here is their current quote for a 90-day script for generic abiraterone:

* * *

Your Medication Quote

ZYTIGA, YONSA - ABIRATERONE ACETATE (GENERIC) - TABLET - 250 MG - 90 Qty $69.19

$69.19

FREE SHIPPING

$69.19 (Members Get FREE Shipping on 4 NON-Refrigerated packages per year)

* * *

Add in the $50 quarterly membership and the total cost for 3 mos would be $119.19.

So far, I've been pleased with their service. You get one free shipping per quarter, but even their ~ $ 6 standard shipping charge seems reasonable to me.

Stay Safe & Well,

Ciao - Kaptin K9

[cigafred in reply to cujoe]

Noted for when I get to the abi stage.

[cujoe in reply to cigafred]

Same here, as I have recently restarted my n=1 B+D+T dosing trial. (B= bicalutamide, D= dutasteride, T= tamoxifen)

[Gearhead in reply to cujoe]

Most follow the 1,000 mg per day abiraterone dosage. That's 4 x 250 mg pills per day. So 90 tablets wouldn't last a month. Then the Scriptco and Mark Cuban costs are roughly the same. I buy my abiraterone through Mark Cuban Cost Plus (for about $118 for 120 x 250 mg) even though I have United HealthCare Part D (the copay was >$400/month before I switched to Cuban). Maybe I'll find a better Part D plan for next year.