Release #095-98

Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI, COMMISSIONERS POLONETSKY AND STUPP VISIT SENIOR CENTER AND RELEASE RESULTS OF "BEST AND WORST" PRESCRIPTION DRUG SURVEY

Survey Reveals New Yorkers Can Save Money by Shopping Around and Buying Generic; Manhattanites Pay the Most, Staten Islanders the Least

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jules Polonetsky, and Department for the Aging Commissioner (DFTA) Herbert W. Stupp advised New Yorkers to shop around and save on prescription drugs by arming themselves with the most recent DCA Adult and Senior Prescription Drug Price Surveys. The survey results released today at Our Lady of Pompeii Senior Center in Greenwich Village found Ridgewood's Mil-Rue Pharmacy to be the least expensive for senior prescription drugs of all stores surveyed.

"Protecting New York consumers is a prime concern," Mayor Giuliani said. "DCA's annual prescription drug survey demonstrates that New Yorkers can save a substantial amount of money by choosing one drug store over another -- even in the same neighborhood. For example, at Elm Pharmacy (298 First Avenue), on Manhattan's East Side, the standard quantity of Capoten, the hypertension medicine, sold for $15.99. But just a few blocks away at 253 First Avenue, McKay Drugs was selling the same medication for $40.39 -- 153 percent more expensive than its neighbor."

For the fourth consecutive year, Consumer Affairs inspectors conducted a citywide survey of 73 pharmacies detailing average prices for "market baskets" made up of brand name drugs frequently prescribed to adults and seniors. The survey also lists average prices of the brand name drugs themselves, as well as several popular generic drugs. The 1998 survey reflects the list prices of prescription drugs that were culled from the "blue" signs that pharmacies are required to post near each store's prescription counter. These prices were later verified with the individual pharmacists.

Average borough market basket prices for adult and senior market baskets were:

Borough	Adult Baskets	Senior Baskets
Bronx	$704.90	$671.99
Brooklyn	$695.84	$663.76
Manhattan	$744.28	$713.13
Queens	$707.62	$678.49
Staten Island	$695.44	$658.28
Citywide Average	$709.82	$678.30

For the first time in the four-year history of the survey, Staten Island was found to be the least expensive borough for prescription drug purchases, with an average market basket price of $695.44 for 20 adult drugs and $658.28 for 18 senior drugs, while Manhattan consumers could expect to pay the most, an average of $744.28 and $713.13 respectively, for the same products.

Commissioner Polonetsky said, "Even the smartest consumers don't often think of comparison shopping when it comes to filling a prescription. Unlike over-the-counter medication -- which is openly displayed and priced -- prescription drugs are less accessible and shoppers can feel uncomfortable requesting price information. The Administration's annual survey provides shoppers with vital knowledge before they fill their prescription to make purchasing the medication they need more affordable.

"Significant price gaps exist between brand name medications and their generic counterparts. Some brand name drugs can cost consumers three to four times more than equivalent non-name brand medications. For example, the high blood pressure medication Calan sold for $24.00 at Capitol Pharmacy, located at 1639 First Avenue in Manhattan, while its generic counterpart, Verpamil, sold at the same store for only $5.00 -- a difference of $19.00 or 480 percent," Commissioner Polonetsky said.

"Many consumers are not aware that they can request a generic substitute for a brand name drug if the doctor does not write `DAW' or Dispense as Written on the prescription," Commissioner Polonetsky added. "If pharmacists do not carry a specific generic drug, they must inform you if it is simply out of stock or not carried by the store."

The "market basket" was calculated by Consumer Affairs investigators who visited each of the 73 pharmacies, surveying how much it would cost to buy all the name-brand drugs on the pre-determined list. A consumer purchasing the entire market basket would pay $709.82 for adult drugs and $678.30 for senior drugs, based on the citywide average. However, the cost climbed as high as $951.00 for adult drugs at Zitomer Pharmacy, and $936.70 for senior drugs at Lascoff & Son Pharmacy, both located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Consumers shopping at Mil-Rue Pharmacy in Ridgewood, Queens, would save over $200 over the average market basket price, paying as little as $566.60 for adult drugs and $551.15 for senior drugs.

The Mayor and Commissioners urged consumers to get their free copies of the 1998 Senior and Adult Prescription Drug Survey by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: New York City Department of Consumer Affairs; 1998 Prescription Drug Survey; 42 Broadway, 8th floor; New York, NY 10004.