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Express Scripts forms partnership to reduce drug costs

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ST. LOUIS — Express Scripts Inc. has launched Inside Rx, a partially owned subsidiary applying the pharmacy benefit manager’s purchasing power to make branded and generic medications more affordable.

Express Scripts said Monday that Inside Rx is partnering with pharmacy pricing comparison service GoodRx to deliver average savings of more than one-third on prescription drugs for the uninsured and those who experience high out-of-pocket costs for their medications.

Beginning Monday, patients can visit goodrx.com/brand or download the GoodRx mobile app to instantly access significant savings for more than 40 brand-name drugs that treat diabetes, asthma, heart disease, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, gout and other common illnesses.

Inside Rx prescription savings cardWhile savings vary per drug and pharmacy,  patients can save an average of 34% off of the drug’s typical cash price, which could translate into savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars per person per year.

To get the discounts, patients present the program’s card or mobile app at one of 40,000 pharmacies nationwide. There are no membership fees or costs. A complete list of available medications and participating pharmacies is at insiderx.com.

“We have a unique opportunity to put medicine within reach of those who need it,” Express Scripts president and chief executive officer Tim Wentworth said in a statement. “By practicing pharmacy smarter, we are bringing together companies across health care to truly deliver value. We are proud to power a novel solution that makes brand name medicines more affordable and accessible, particularly for people without prescription coverage.”

Express Scripts noted that the program represents a unique, cross-industry collaboration among Inside Rx, GoodRx, participating retailers, and major pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceuticals. 

All stakeholders share a focus to ensure patients have expanded access to affordable medications. Today, more than 30 million Americans pay the full cost of their prescriptions.

“The GoodRx/Inside Rx program is a simple and effective way to help millions of Americans who struggle to afford their prescriptions,” stated Doug Hirsch, co-founder and co-CEO of GoodRx. “GoodRx is proud to partner with Inside Rx to reduce the cost of diabetes, asthma and other important drugs that patients need.”

Participating pharmacies include Walgreens/Duane Reade, Kroger, CVS Pharmacy, Bartell Drugs, Brookshire Brothers, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, H-E-B, Thrifty White Pharmacy and Wegmans, among others.

“We are pleased to participate in Express Scripts’ new program that will play an important role in helping underinsured and uninsured patients receive the medicines they need at a price they can afford,” commented Brad Fluegel, senior vice president and chief health care commercial market development officer at Walgreens.

“Kroger is excited to partner with Express Scripts on this new program that creates affordability and expands access to medications for many of our patients,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of pharmacy at Kroger Co. and The Little Clinic. Soon, Inside Rx cards also will be available at the Kroger locations.

Inside Rx is not insurance and is not available to members enrolled in government-sponsored health programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE. 


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