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I don’t know how goodRx makes money, but it’s a great tool for doctors. I use it every shift to pick affordable antibiotics, blood thinners, eye drops, etc for

I don’t know how goodRx makes money, but it’s a great tool for doctors. I use it every shift to pick affordable antibiotics, blood thinners, eye drops, etc for my patients. Yesterday I accidentally prescribed an ear drop that cost $320 for the bottle, when there was a $15 option that was just as effective. Only way for me to know that was GoodRx

midnitewarrior 7y ago
Thank you for doing this! I was subscribed an otic cream that cost over $200 when the pharmacist told me there were similar, slightly less effective drops for $50. I spent 2 hours at the pharmacy calling back to my physician and waiting to try to get the prescription changed. Most don't have that time flexibility to do that. I think the pharmacist regretted telling me, as it was such a pain to get the prescription changed with my Dr.
njovin 7y ago
It seems crazy to me that as a professional who’s diagnoses basically has to be followed there’s no other means to know how your treatment plan will financially affect a patient. Imagine if your car mechanic recommended a fix but had no idea what the parts would cost. And the difference between two perfectly suitable parts could be the equivalent of half of someone’s paycheck.
- dreamcompiler 7y ago
  Doctors know generics are cheaper (or at least they used to be) but that's about it for their price awareness. This is not their fault. Doctors are inundated by drug salespeople "educating" them to prescribe the most expensive drugs. And drug salespeople never--ever--push aspirin.
  - prepend 7y ago
    My insurer has an app and web site to look up drug prices. It doesn’t require a login. My doc could certainly use the same site I do to check. Her EMR could certainly check. My doc will sit there with me as I look up prices and compare cheaper meds. I just wish it was faster to save both our time.
  - susiecambria 7y ago
    But generics are not all they are cracked up to be. Bottle of Lies, for example, details problems with generics. And I've had personal experience with the FDA (finally) pulling a generic off the market b/c there was a potential for the drug to cause cancer. I'm all for generics, but I'd like the government to do its part to protect the health and safety of the citizenry. (And no, I don't believe big pharma is being honest.)
  - davycro 7y ago
    Every script I write is for a generic. I have never met a drug rep. For many ailments there are five or six different drugs suited for the job. Goodrx helps me pick the most affordable.
    - dreamcompiler 7y ago
      > I have never met a drug rep. Interesting. I wonder if this is because you're an ER doc and work in a hospital? Every doctor I know who sees patients in an office has to deal with sales reps.

midnitewarrior 7y ago

Thank you for doing this! I was subscribed an otic cream that cost over $200 when the pharmacist told me there were similar, slightly less effective drops for $50. I spent 2 hours at the pharmacy calling back to my physician and waiting to try to get the prescription changed. Most don't have that time flexibility to do that. I think the pharmacist regretted telling me, as it was such a pain to get the prescription changed with my Dr.

njovin 7y ago

It seems crazy to me that as a professional who’s diagnoses basically has to be followed there’s no other means to know how your treatment plan will financially affect a patient. Imagine if your car mechanic recommended a fix but had no idea what the parts would cost. And the difference between two perfectly suitable parts could be the equivalent of half of someone’s paycheck.

dreamcompiler 7y ago
Doctors know generics are cheaper (or at least they used to be) but that's about it for their price awareness. This is not their fault. Doctors are inundated by drug salespeople "educating" them to prescribe the most expensive drugs. And drug salespeople never--ever--push aspirin.
- prepend 7y ago
  My insurer has an app and web site to look up drug prices. It doesn’t require a login. My doc could certainly use the same site I do to check. Her EMR could certainly check. My doc will sit there with me as I look up prices and compare cheaper meds. I just wish it was faster to save both our time.
- susiecambria 7y ago
  But generics are not all they are cracked up to be. Bottle of Lies, for example, details problems with generics. And I've had personal experience with the FDA (finally) pulling a generic off the market b/c there was a potential for the drug to cause cancer. I'm all for generics, but I'd like the government to do its part to protect the health and safety of the citizenry. (And no, I don't believe big pharma is being honest.)
- davycro 7y ago
  Every script I write is for a generic. I have never met a drug rep. For many ailments there are five or six different drugs suited for the job. Goodrx helps me pick the most affordable.
  - dreamcompiler 7y ago
    > I have never met a drug rep. Interesting. I wonder if this is because you're an ER doc and work in a hospital? Every doctor I know who sees patients in an office has to deal with sales reps.