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Amid a flurry of national proposals to bring exorbitant U.S. drug prices in line with other countries’ charges, one Utah insurer has a different option for patients:
Pay them to go to Mexico.
PEHP, which covers 160,000 public employees and family members, is offering plane tickets to San Diego, transportation to Tijuana, and a $500 cash payout to patients who need certain expensive drugs for multiple sclerosis, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
“That money is pretty small in comparison to the difference between U.S. prices and Mexico prices,” said Travis Tolley, clinical operations director for PEHP.
The insurer rolled out its “pharmacy tourism” option this fall in response to state legislation requiring state employees’ insurance plans to offer “savings rewards,” or cash incentives, to patients who choose cheaper providers.
PEHP is offering pharmacy tourism benefits for about a dozen drugs for which the price disparity between countries is vast. For example, Avonex, which treats MS, costs about $6,700 for a 28-day supply in the U.S., but about $2,200 through PEHP’s contracted clinic in Tijuana.
For three months’ supply — the maximum allowed under the program — the savings of $13,500 more than covers the $500 reward and transportation, typically less than $300 per person.
[...] Patients who participate will fly to San Diego, be driven through a priority lane at the border crossing and arrive at a clinic, which PEHP director Chet Loftis described as “top-notch,” comparable to a Mayo or Cleveland clinic in the United States.
Medical tourism is not new; PEHP itself has previously offered coverage for out-of-country medical procedures. But without the cash incentives, patients haven’t used that option, Loftis said. Now that clients are eligible for up to $3,900 a year in reward payments for trips to Tijuana for procedures and drugs, Loftis said he hopes more will participate.
Source: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/10/28/fight-high-drug-prices/
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 30 2018, @03:10PM (2 children)
Drugs in mexico are the exact same as in the USA. Not only chemically but in many times the brand name is the same as well.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Tuesday October 30 2018, @05:13PM
Yet according to the FDA it's still illegal to import them, even for personal use, because the FDA hasn't approved those specific pills. Even if it's the same brand and product.
If it IS legal to do this, then why can't I just use one of the many websites which promise an online consultation with a foreign doctor who will then write a prescription for and mail me whatever meds I want? Why can't I just mail order Oxycontin from some random physician in India? The same drug is approved for sale in the US, right? And I've got a "valid prescription" from that foreign doctor, right?
My understanding is that this is not legal in any way, but it's exploiting a bit of good will from the customs agents, who generally allow minor violations when people appear to be bringing a small supply for personal use. But it's one thing when it's a tourist bringing the drugs they need for their trip; it's quite another when it's a corporation paying people to do it in order to save that company money.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 31 2018, @08:34PM
Right... Just like there is no fake Viagra... the brand name is the same so it's the same fucking drug right?
You do not understand the only really objective piece of information a person has about a product they purchase is the fucking price. Because of this, things like drugs have a huge amount of beuracracy aroudn them to ensure quality control. Which results in huge price increases, but removes the chance you are given fake shit placebo.
Now if Mexico also has similiar scheme ran by their government, and you trust it not to be corrupt, then great, you may save money. But you need to do research on your own to ensure this is the case, otherwise expect some fake shit made in China or elsewhere to be peddled to you at that price.