Contacts:
Ethnie Groves, Governor Doyle’s Office, 608-261-2156
Abby Ottenhoff, Governor Blagojevich’s Office, 312-814-3158
Kathleen Connery, Congressman Emanuel’s Office, 202-226-7639
Licensed pharmacies in Australia and New Zealand to be Added to Network
Governor Jim Doyle, along with Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel today announced plans to expand the I-SaveRx prescription drug importation network to Australia and New Zealand.
The expansion comes on the heels of a comprehensive study conducted by Illinois’ Prescription Drug Advocates into the safety and savings of prescription drugs in Australia and New Zealand. The advocates’ report, released today, shows that the pharmaceutical systems in the two countries are safe and could provide significant savings averaging around 51 percent compared to prices in the United States. These savings are even better than those available from Canada where the same medications cost 32 percent less than in the U.S.
“This expansion of the highly successful I-SaveRx program will help even more citizens afford their prescription medications,” Governor Doyle said. “This program helps give our citizens another safe, affordable option for their prescription medications at a time when the federal government has repeatedly refused to fight the drug companies.”
Beginning in Fall 2005, I-SaveRx participants will have even more access to significant savings on some of the most common medications used to treat chronic conditions. A comparison of prices for 78 of the most-used prescription drugs in the I-SaveRx program found that prices in Australia are 51 percent less expensive on average than in the U.S, while the same medications from Canada are 32 percent less than in the U.S.
Governor Doyle and Governor Blagojevich launched I-SaveRx on October 4, 2004. Since then, Missouri, Kansas and Vermont have joined the program. The program is available to all residents of participating states, regardless of age or income. More than 10,000 orders have been filled so far with average savings of 25 to 50 percent.
The I-SaveRx program was the first to establish a network of pharmacies that includes facilities across the Atlantic – and now across the Pacific as well. The I-SaveRx program has extensive safeguards built-in and includes thorough oversight of network pharmacies.
The new program connects users to the I-SaveRx administrative clearinghouse through the website or toll-free telephone number. The clearinghouse provides users with information on the list of medications included in the program, prices in each of the countries and enrollment forms and guidance. Consumers can enjoy one-stop shopping rather than contacting numerous pharmacies to gather information and compare prices.
Before ordering, new enrollees must mail or have their doctor fax a completed health profile form and signed prescription to the clearinghouse. Once the clearinghouse has received the prescription and health profile form, it conducts an initial scan for appropriateness using the same drug interaction software used in Illinois pharmacies. If the prescription passes the interaction test, it is then turned over to a network physician in the country from which the medication will be dispensed, who reviews and re-writes the prescription for a local network pharmacy. The pharmacy performs a final safety check to comply with local laws and regulations before dispensing the medication.
The I-SaveRx import program builds-in numerous safety measures to ensure the quality and safety of drugs dispensed. The list of available drugs is limited to those that are used for long periods of time, and that cannot spoil during the shipping process. Consumers can order eligible drugs for re-fill only, so patients and their doctors have had time to review for unanticipated side-effects or interactions. All network pharmacies agree to comply with Illinois pharmaceutical standards, and to only dispense drugs that are intended as domestic product in Canada, Ireland, the U.K., Australia or New Zealand – meaning the pharmacies cannot dispense prescription drugs from other countries that are not part of the program to I-SaveRx consumers.
In February 2004, Governor Doyle launched Wisconsin’s original prescription drug website www.drugsavings.wi.gov, which gives citizens the opportunity to save by linking users directly to mail-order pharmacies in Canada. Wisconsin’s program includes links to three Canadian pharmacies that offer significant savings to citizens.
For more information about I-SaveRx or to get enrollment information, visit www.I-Saverx.net or call toll-free 866-ISAVE-33.
The full Australian-New Zealand report can be viewed at www.I-Saverx.net.
