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NEWARK
– Prescription drug prices can vary
as much as $60 per unit from one New Jersey
pharmacy to the next, depending on the specific
drug and other factors.
To
educate the public during National Consumer
Protection Week, and to help consumers make
the most of every dollar, the State Division
of Consumer Affairs today reminds consumers
of an important online resource: New
Jersey’s Prescription Drug Price Registry.
The
Registry, at www.njdrugprices.nj.gov,
maintained by the Division of Consumer Affairs,
lets consumers compare the prices offered
at different pharmacies for the 150 most
frequently prescribed drugs. The website
allows consumers to input the prescribed
medication and dosage type, and their town
name or ZIP code, for a list of the prices
offered by specific pharmacies in their
area.
“New
Jersey’s Prescription Drug Price Registry
is an easy-to-use resource, in English and
Spanish, that can put hundreds of dollars
back into consumers’ pockets. Medication
is expensive, but the Division of Consumer
Affairs is doing what it can to help consumers
take care of their health and their bank
accounts,” Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting
Director of the State Division of Consumer
Affairs, said.
Consumers
buying prescription medications –
especially if they are buying from more
than one pharmacy – should always
communicate with the pharmacist about their
medical condition and the full list of drugs
they are taking. Failure to communicate
with the pharmacist may result in purchasing
drugs that are not compatible with each
other or with the patient’s health.
The
Division of Consumer Affairs updates the
Prescription Drug Price Registry each week,
from claims that licensed New Jersey pharmacies
submit to the State Department of Human
Services, Division of Medical Assistance
and Health Services regarding their “usual
and customary” prices.
Actual
prices charged may vary from those listed
on the Registry website. While using the
Registry to make informed shopping decisions,
consumers should call or visit their pharmacy
to learn the current price before buying.
National
Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)
is a coordinated campaign that encourages
consumers nationwide to take full advantage
of their consumer rights and make better-informed
decisions. NCPW 2011 takes place March 6
through 12, 2011.
More
information designed to help consumers protect
themselves is offered free of charge at
the State Division of Consumer Affairs NCPW
website at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
. Information is also available at the official
National Consumer Awareness Week website,
www.NCPW.gov.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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