Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Drug Cost Management Report, July, 2002

* Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) is providing cost comparison information on 25 of the most common brand-name drugs with generic counterparts on its Web site at www.bcbsm.com/generic. The information was developed as a pocket card for physicians, and is now being distributed to members as well.

The card is a handy reference for physicians, Blues members, and uninsured patients, because it provides the average wholesale price (AWP), which can be used as a starting point for comparison shopping. BCBSM covers approximately 4.8 million health plan members.

Figure 10. BCBSM Price Comparison Chart-Name Brand vs. Generic Price

                             Common Regimen or          Brand-Name
Brand Name/Strength[*]       Quantity (30 day supply)   Cost[**]

Ativan 1mg                   BID                           $70.25
BuSpar 15mg                  BID                          $141.80
Cardizem CD 240mg            QD                            $68.37
Cardura 4mg                  QD                            $34.38
Cleocin T 1% - 60ml          QD                            $70.45
Darvocet-N 100 100; 650mg    QID                          $105.42
Dyazide 25; 37.5mg           QD                            $16.61
Hytrin 5mg                   QD                            $61.17
Imdur 60mg                   QD                            $55.13
K-Dur 20mg                   BID                           $34.22
Klonopin 0.5mg               BID                           $46.50
Lasix 40mg                   QD                             $9.23
Lopressor 50mg               BID                           $48.27
Nitrostat 0.4mg              100 Count Vial                $20.91
Pepcid 20mg                  BID                          $121.67
Procardia XL 30mg            QD                            $45.49
Prozac 20mg                  QD                            $93.38
Ritalin 10mg                 TID                           $55.78
Tenormin 50mg                QD                            $35.51
Valium 5mg                   BID                           $62.98
Vasotec 10mg                 BID                           $74.97
Vicodin ES 7.5; 750mg        QID                           $78.06
Xanax 0.5mg                  BID                           $73.41
Zantac 150mg                 BID                          $113.90
Ziac 5; 6.25mg               QD                            $40.68

                                             Generic
Brand Name/Strength[*]                     Cost[***]

Ativan 1mg                                    $27.11
BuSpar 15mg                                   $48.46
Cardizem CD 240mg                             $38.45
Cardura 4mg                                   $13.94
Cleocin T 1% - 60ml                           $26.73
Darvocet-N 100 100; 650mg                     $19.08
Dyazide 25; 37.5mg                             $7.42
Hytrin 5mg                                    $30.09
Imdur 60mg                                     $6.64
K-Dur 20mg                                    $21.25
Klonopin 0.5mg                                $22.39
Lasix 40mg                                     $0.71
Lopressor 50mg                                 $4.35
Nitrostat 0.4mg                                $9.21
Pepcid 20mg                                   $24.91
Procardia XL 30mg                             $28.87
Prozac 20mg                                   $10.50
Ritalin 10mg                                  $29.47
Tenormin 50mg                                  $1.28
Valium 5mg                                     $1.82
Vasotec 10mg                                  $15.84
Vicodin ES 7.5; 750mg                         $17.02
Xanax 0.5mg                                    $2.55
Zantac 150mg                                  $12.60
Ziac 5; 6.25mg                                $17.03

                                                          Generic
Brand Name/Strength[*]       Generic Name                 Savings

Ativan 1mg                   Lorazepam                     $43.14
BuSpar 15mg                  Buspirone HCL                 $93.34
Cardizem CD 240mg            Diltiazem HCL                 $29.92
Cardura 4mg                  Doxazosin Mesylate            $20.44
Cleocin T 1% - 60ml          Clindamycin Phosphate         $43.72
Darvocet-N 100 100; 650mg    Propoxyphene/Acetaminophen    $86.34
Dyazide 25; 37.5mg           Triamterene/HCTZ               $9.19
Hytrin 5mg                   Terazosin HCL                 $31.08
Imdur 60mg                   Isosorbide Mononitrate        $48.48
K-Dur 20mq                   Potassium Chloride            $12.96
Klonopin 0.5mg               Clonazepam                    $24.11
Lasix 40mg                   Furosemide                     $8.53
Lopressor 50mg               Metoprolol Tartrate           $43.92
Nitrostat 0.4mg              Nitroglycerin                 $11.70
Pepcid 20mg                  Famotidine                    $96.76
Procardia XL 30mg            Nifedipine Extended Release   $16.62
Prozac 20mg                  Fluoxetine HCL                $82.88
Ritalin 10mg                 Methylphenidate HCL           $26.31
Tenormin 50mg                Atenolol                      $34.23
Valium 5mg                   Diazepam                      $61.15
Vasotec 10mg                 Enalapril Maleate             $59.13
Vicodin ES 7.5; 750mg        Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen     $61.04
Xanax 0.5mg                  Alprazolam                    $70.86
Zantac 150mg                 Ranitidine HCL               $101.30
Ziac 5; 6.25mg               Bisoprolol Fumarate/HCTZ      $23.65

QD: Once a Day | BID: Twice a Day | TID: Three a Day | QID: Four a Day

[*] Most common strength dispensed for BCBBM members
[**] Brand-name cost based on Average Wholesale Price (AWP) obtained using
First DataBank (4/15/02) [***] Generic cost based on BCBBM
Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) schedule or discounted AWP (4/01/02)

Source: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.