If they find the prescription drug at a lower cost outside of the discount
card program, they can buy the drug without using the card.
Proven Savings
Discount cards generally reduce brand drug prices by approximately 10
to 25 percent and cut generic drug prices by approximately 40 to 60
percent. A recent PCMA analysis compared the prices for prescription
drugs available through two PBM discount card programs to the cash
prices paid by individuals in a typical retail drug store setting. Data was
collected through a national sampling of retail pharmacies that looked
at eight brand and generic medications. This analysis showed discount
card savings as great as 36.9 percent for brand drugs and 68.7 percent
for generics compared to the amounts paid out of pocket by customers
who did not have the discount cards. PCMA data showed, for example,
that for the drug Glucotrol, a prescription used to treat diabetes, a
discount card could save as much as 24.3 percent in a retail setting and
36.9 percent in a mail order facility. Individuals who utilize generic
medications achieved even greater savings. Discount cards reduced the
cost of metoprolol, an antihypertensive medication, as much as 65.4
percent through retail and 68.7 percent through mail order. However,
savings may vary between drug types, and discount cards may not
provide a savings for every drug.
PCMA’s Position on Discount Cards
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PMCA) supports
making discount cards available to seniors covered under Medicare
as a positive first step toward providing America’s seniors with
comprehensive prescription drug coverage. PCMA recognizes that
even greater savings and opportunities to improve the quality of
pharmaceutical care can be made available to seniors through the
enactment of comprehensive prescription drug coverage.
“Organizations with the greatest ability to affect prescribing get the best prices.”

The Role of Discount Cards
Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, 2300 Ninth Street South, Suite 210, Arlington, VA 2220
December 1, 2001