PCMA Launches New Medicare Drug Discount Card Advertising Campaign; ‘Being Carded Never Felt So Good’ Theme of TV & Print Ads
New Industry Survey Data Details Average Discounts Medicare Beneficiaries Likely to See with Medicare PBM Cards in Retail, Mail-Service Pharmacies
Washington, DC; 04.20.04 — Medicare beneficiaries enrolling in PBM-sponsored Medicare prescription drug discount cards are likely to see average discounts of 17 percent for brand-name drugs and 35 percent for generic drugs, according to a first-of-its-kind survey of PCMA member companies released today by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA).
In conjunction with the release of the survey data, PCMA also announced the launch of a new television and print advertising campaign, “Being Carded Never Felt So Good,” to raise awareness about the value that PBM-administered Medicare drug discount cards can provide to millions of seniors and disabled beneficiaries. PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
“We are launching today’s initiative to highlight the value that PBMs can provide to seniors through the Medicare drug discount card program,” said PCMA President & CEO Mark Merritt in releasing the survey data and announcing the new advertising initiative. “Because of PBMs, beneficiaries enrolling in Medicare-sponsored PBM drug discount cards will see significant discounts and pay less for their prescription drugs. This is good news for seniors.”
As part of its efforts to raise awareness about the value PBMs can bring to the Medicare program, PCMA retained a third-party researcher to conduct a blind industry survey about the level of savings Medicare beneficiaries can expect in both the retail and mail-service settings on both brand-name and generic prescription drugs and the access to participating pharmacies. The survey is unique with respect to the Medicare drug discount card in that Ă¢?? for the first time ever Ă¢?? it distinguishes the level of discounts expected for brand-name and generic prescriptions in both the retail and mail-order pharmacy settings. These discounts are an average Ă¢?? some beneficiaries will see greater discounts, while others will see less generous discounts than the averages listed here.
These data reflect the findings of PCMA member company PBMs that expect to enroll collectively at least 1.34 million Medicare beneficiaries. Among the survey’s key findings:
PCMA Launches New Medicare Drug Card Advertising
Average Discounts for Seniors Filling Prescriptions with Medicare PBM Discount Cards in Retail Pharmacy
Brand-name drugs: 16 percent
Generic drugs: 34 percent
Average Discounts for Seniors Filling Prescriptions with Medicare PBM Discount Cards in Mail Order Pharmacy
Brand-name drugs: 23 percent
Generic drugs: 39 percent
Average Weighted Overall Discounts for Seniors Filling Prescriptions with PBM Discount Cards
Brand-name drugs: 17 percent
Generic drugs: 35 percent
Pharmacy Access
The average number of participating pharmacies for surveyed companies in the Medicare drug card program is 44,250 pharmacies.
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The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is the national trade association representing America’s pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs). PCMA member companies provide pharmaceutical care management services to more than 200 million Americans.
Contact Information:
Phil Blando
202-207-3614