Monday, April 19, 2004

From the Canadian Press:
Springfield saves $2 million in 9 months by buying drugs from Canada
Springfield has saved about $2 million US over the past nine months by buying prescription drugs from Canada for city workers and retirees, the head of the program said Monday.

Chris Collins, the city's insurance director, said about 3,000 of the 20,000 city employees, retirees and their dependents are participating in the voluntary program. Last July, the cash-strapped city became the America's first to turn to cheaper Canadian drugs for its health plan.

From the Boston Globe:
City saves $2 million in nine months on Canadian prescription
The city has saved about $2 million over the past nine months by buying prescription drugs from Canada, according to the head of Springfield's insurance program.

With the encouragement of the city's new mayor, insurance director Chris Collins is trying to get more workers and retirees to sign up for the city's groundbreaking voluntary program, launched in mid-July by former mayor Michael Albano.

From New York Newsday:
The pfight to 'Pfix Pfizer'
A few months ago, Pfizer, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, cut off supplies to wholesalers selling its drugs to Canadian pharmacies or Internet sites that sold to Americans, mostly, seniors seeking cheaper drugs.

Senior groups retaliated urging their members to boycott Pfizer's over-the-counter products, which include Sudafed, Benadryl and Rolaids.

On Thursday, seniors will ratchet up their campaign to "Pfix Pfizer" as dozens gather to protest outside Pfizer's headquarters in Manhattan and at the company's annual meeting in St. Louis.

From the Fond du Lac (Wisc.) Reporter:
Couple stunned when prescription costs exceeded property tax bill
A retired couple with a beautiful home on the Ledge overlooking Fond du Lac realized how exorbitant their prescription costs are when their pharmacy bill for the year was higher than their real estate tax bill.

Bill Ritter, who lives on Ledgewood Drive with his wife, Mary Lou, is becoming something of an expert on prescription prices. The Ritters spend about $6,000 a year on medications.

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