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Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

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Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#11
post #7

> Amazon claims Prime members will be able to save “up to 80 percent off generic and 40 percent off brand name medications when paying without insurance. This was buried in the article, but is IMO a bigger deal. In the long run, this could really drive down drug prices.

It will be very interesting to see their insulin prices and which types of insulin they sell.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#12
I've been a PillPack customer for the past six months, since my local pharmacy closed (apparently for good) because of COVID19. It would be nice to be able to fine-grain adjust the monthly delivery date, and/or get more than a 30-day supply at a time, but I have no complaints.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#14
post #7

> Amazon claims Prime members will be able to save “up to 80 percent off generic and 40 percent off brand name medications when paying without insurance. This was buried in the article, but is IMO a bigger deal. In the long run, this could really drive down drug prices.

Instead of the Govt being the price negotiator, we got giant corporations instead.

yay

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#15
post #13

Just wondering why couldn’t Walgreens do this? During covid, Walgreens is still one store that you must visit physically to get your prescription. I always thought there was some crazy health care regularization that prevented medicine delivery.

Not neccessarily. There has been a push in the past ten years for mail order handled by Pharmacy Benefit Managers. PBM's are entities that work directly with the drug manufacturer to purchase in bulk, then delivering straight to the consumer at a lower cost than the pharmacy. The retail pharmacy industry, both chain and independent, absolutely despise PBM's and fight vociferously against them because it gives consumers the option not to go to the pharmacy. I predict Amazon will face the same attacks.

Much to a larger issue, though, is the question: Do we really need pharmacists that much anymore? Vending systems would accomplish the same task, for less money. I contend most people don't even speak to a pharmacist anymore.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#16
post #7

> Amazon claims Prime members will be able to save “up to 80 percent off generic and 40 percent off brand name medications when paying without insurance. This was buried in the article, but is IMO a bigger deal. In the long run, this could really drive down drug prices.

Doesn't Walmart already do this?

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#17
post #7

> Amazon claims Prime members will be able to save “up to 80 percent off generic and 40 percent off brand name medications when paying without insurance. This was buried in the article, but is IMO a bigger deal. In the long run, this could really drive down drug prices.

Instead of the Govt being the price negotiator, we got giant corporations instead. yay

You really believe the government will do a better job?

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#18
post #13

Just wondering why couldn’t Walgreens do this? During covid, Walgreens is still one store that you must visit physically to get your prescription. I always thought there was some crazy health care regularization that prevented medicine delivery.

Nope, just inelastic demand. They didn't need to to be competitive, and gig economy wouldn't work because...well, yikes.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#19
post #13

Just wondering why couldn’t Walgreens do this? During covid, Walgreens is still one store that you must visit physically to get your prescription. I always thought there was some crazy health care regularization that prevented medicine delivery.

Medicine delivery is very common for local mom & pop pharmacies, though it may depend on state/municipality. I know DoorDash was working on getting their pharmacy delivery operations up and running at one point, but I'm not sure what the current status of that is.
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