a newsletter from Pocahontas Pharmacy, Inc.

Volume 1 | Issue 12

Lipitor is available generically... technically...

The biggest generic drug launch in history is occurring with Atorvastatin, the generic name of Lipitor. It is also one of the most confusing, as far as what the insurance companies are telling us.

The Watson Company, a generic drug manufacturer, has purchased the exclusive rights to manufacture the generic Lipitor for 6 months. No one else can sell it until that 6 month period is up. Then (around June 2012) other companies will be able to start selling their versions of Atorvastatin.  The price that Watson is charging for their generic is nearly as much as the brand name Lipitor. Once other companies can start selling their generic version, we expect prices to come down dramatically.

The insurance companies are mostly split into two camps. One camp will want their patients to continue to receive Lipitor brand, and they will adjust the amount that you pay, called the copay. The other camp (which includes Iowa Blue Cross Blue Shield) will approve the generic drug, but the copay will remain high. Things will undoubtedly change next summer when we expect the cost of Atorvastatin to come down.

We will know more over the next few weeks as to what exactly each insurance company is doing about generic Lipitor. We will be stocking both and trying our best to comply with your insurance company’s requirements. As always, we will answer any questions you may have to the best of our knowledge, because we are a small store that is BIG on service.

It's the 1st! Check your mail...

Often the first of the year means lots of changes - new year's resolutions, new date to write on the check, and it can also mean new health insurance cards for certain insurance policies. Deductibles are often reset on the 1st of every year, so check with your insurance to find out your new deductible amount.

To speed up your prescription processing, as well as to make sure your insurance is paying what it should, please let us know if you have a new insurance card and bring it with you! Sometimes the numbers change and sometimes they don't, but we are happy to look at your new card and update our information.

Christmas Shopping all month long...

Stop into Mary's Bookshelf throughout the holiday season and receive a free CD with a purchase of $35 or more. The CD is Joy: An Irish Christmas: Special Edition by award-winning songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Christmas books go on sale December 12th! We have some wonderful Christmas present ideas for all ages, and a wide selection of books for adults and children.

We are happy to help with suggestions for gift ideas or even wrap your purchased gifts for free!

Mystery Coupon of the Month

Special offers - print the mystery coupon now! Be sure to check out www.marysbookshelf.com for a demo of the mystery coupon product - day or night!