Private Sector Is Responding to Prescription Drug Costs If Elected Officials Give Markets A Chance to Address Issues

Remember a couple of years ago when all of the talk was about the cost of prescription drugs. Remember when the labor unions were beating up on employers, drug companies and insurers over the costs of prescriptions.  Nary a word on the front pages of the newspapers now and readers have to surface the web for information. So here is what I picked from the National Retail Federation. 

Wal-Mart Stores said its Neighborhood Market and Sam's Clubs will now fill prescriptions for up to 350 generic medications at $10 for a 90-day supply at their pharmacies.

It's an expansion of a discount program Wal-Mart began in Tampa in September in which the company offered 30-day supplies of certain generic drugs for $4. Wal-Mart later implemented the program in 49 states.

Wal-Mart also is adding some medications to the program. Alendronate, a generic version of Fosamax, used to treat osteoporosis, will be sold for $9 for a 30-day supply or $24 for a 90-day supply. Medications to treat breast cancer, menopause and hormone deficiency were added to the $9 list of women's medications.

Additionally, Wal-Mart Stores and Neighborhood Markets are beginning a new program of selling more than 1,000 over-the-counter items priced at $4 or less without a prescription, the release said.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart the discount prescription program has saved customers $1.16 billion since its inception, including $81.4 million for Florida customers.

Don C. Brunell, President (DonB@awb.org).