Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013

Objective. Compare glaucoma medication costs between the United States (USA) and Canada. Methods. We modelled glaucoma brand name and generic medication annual costs in the USA and Canada based on October 2013 Costco prices and previously reported bottle overfill rates, drops per mL, and wastage adj...

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Main Authors: Matthew B. Schlenker, Graham E. Trope, Yvonne M. Buys
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/547960
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author Matthew B. Schlenker
Graham E. Trope
Yvonne M. Buys
author_facet Matthew B. Schlenker
Graham E. Trope
Yvonne M. Buys
author_sort Matthew B. Schlenker
collection DOAJ
description Objective. Compare glaucoma medication costs between the United States (USA) and Canada. Methods. We modelled glaucoma brand name and generic medication annual costs in the USA and Canada based on October 2013 Costco prices and previously reported bottle overfill rates, drops per mL, and wastage adjustment. We also calculated real wholesale price changes from 2006 to 2013 based on the Average Wholesale Price (USA) and the Ontario Drug Benefit Price (Canada). Results. US brand name medication costs were on average 4x more than Canadian medication costs (range: 1.9x–6.9x), averaging a cost difference of $859 annually. US generic costs were on average the same as Canadian costs, though variation exists. US brand name wholesale prices increased from 2006 to 2013 more than Canadian prices (US range: 29%–349%; Canadian range: 9%–16%). US generic wholesale prices increased modestly (US range: −23%–58%), and Canadian wholesale prices decreased (Canadian range: −38%–0%). Conclusions. US brand name glaucoma medications are more expensive than Canadian medications, though generic costs are similar (with some variation). The real prices of brand name medications increased more in the USA than in Canada. Generic price changes were more modest, with real prices actually decreasing in Canada.
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spelling doaj-art-8ae5574c70804f8da467aae4f95589d52025-02-03T01:01:18ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582015-01-01201510.1155/2015/547960547960Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013Matthew B. Schlenker0Graham E. Trope1Yvonne M. Buys2Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, 340 College Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON, M5T 3A9, CanadaDepartment of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, 340 College Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON, M5T 3A9, CanadaDepartment of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, 340 College Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON, M5T 3A9, CanadaObjective. Compare glaucoma medication costs between the United States (USA) and Canada. Methods. We modelled glaucoma brand name and generic medication annual costs in the USA and Canada based on October 2013 Costco prices and previously reported bottle overfill rates, drops per mL, and wastage adjustment. We also calculated real wholesale price changes from 2006 to 2013 based on the Average Wholesale Price (USA) and the Ontario Drug Benefit Price (Canada). Results. US brand name medication costs were on average 4x more than Canadian medication costs (range: 1.9x–6.9x), averaging a cost difference of $859 annually. US generic costs were on average the same as Canadian costs, though variation exists. US brand name wholesale prices increased from 2006 to 2013 more than Canadian prices (US range: 29%–349%; Canadian range: 9%–16%). US generic wholesale prices increased modestly (US range: −23%–58%), and Canadian wholesale prices decreased (Canadian range: −38%–0%). Conclusions. US brand name glaucoma medications are more expensive than Canadian medications, though generic costs are similar (with some variation). The real prices of brand name medications increased more in the USA than in Canada. Generic price changes were more modest, with real prices actually decreasing in Canada.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/547960
spellingShingle Matthew B. Schlenker
Graham E. Trope
Yvonne M. Buys
Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
title_full Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
title_fullStr Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
title_short Comparison of United States and Canadian Glaucoma Medication Costs and Price Change from 2006 to 2013
title_sort comparison of united states and canadian glaucoma medication costs and price change from 2006 to 2013
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/547960
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AT grahametrope comparisonofunitedstatesandcanadianglaucomamedicationcostsandpricechangefrom2006to2013
AT yvonnembuys comparisonofunitedstatesandcanadianglaucomamedicationcostsandpricechangefrom2006to2013