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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

#51

Post by Red_Leaves_Flyy »

hourislate wrote: post #33
bhupy wrote: 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.

You can probably save more at Walmart https://www.walmart.com/cp/4-prescriptions/1078664 Prescription Program includes up to a 30-day supply for $4 and a 90-day supply for $10 of some covered generic drugs at commonly prescribed dosages.

Or a local pharmacy. Wal-Mart is more expensive than my local pharmacy.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#52

Post by [deleted] »

bhupy wrote: post #43
toomuchtodo wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I support price controls in the US, and the government manufacturing generics if necessary (stepping in if the private sector won't due to it not being profitable enough). EDIT: I removed an unrelated paragraph about Planned Parenthood and drug supply chain I thought was out of scope.

> stepping in if the private sector won’t due to it not being profitable enough That’s effectively what government-enforced drug patents are for. I think it’s debatable whether that’s the best implementation of what you’re describing. Government sponsored “Prizes” are another approach that sounds promising -> https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/03/pr... I donate to Planned Parenthood as well, and d…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#53

Post by exhilaration »

nerdjon wrote: post #46

I personally already use PillPack, but what I am more curious is this line that so far I can only find on the verge and not any of the Amazon pages. "Prime members will also be able to save on medication bought in person from over 50,000 pharmacies across the US, including Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens." I assume that means that Amazon actually worked with all of these companies? Does anyone see that on any o…

It sounds to me like they're creating their own drug discount card, like GoodRX.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#54

Post by SamuelAdams »

mfer wrote: post #49

There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of them? How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Amazon has copied many patented products to sell under their own brand. Would they do that with drugs and use the same tactics?

> How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases?

Likely not at all. HIPAA comes into play here. Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. For non-USA amazon users, I'm sure other laws apply.

Source: used to work at a big retailer and had to remind managers of this frequently when they wanted to "integrate data from all these systems".

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#55

Post by dazc »

mfer wrote: post #49

There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of them? How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Amazon has copied many patented products to sell under their own brand. Would they do that with drugs and use the same tactics?

Copying prescription drugs and selling under their own brand is likely more difficult than buying generic staplers and putting a Basics label on them?

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#56

Post by Red_Leaves_Flyy »

sytelus wrote: 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.

My local pharmacy ships all my meds overnight at no additional cost and they're cheaper than Wal-Mart. If it's got a DEA # then I need to show my ID and sign for it. It's usually shipped USPS but they also have couriers. I haven't had any meds that required refrigeration but I imagine they just use a courier for that too.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#58

Post by Red_Leaves_Flyy »

barbecue_sauce wrote: post #19
sytelus wrote: 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.

Gig drivers delivering meds?

WTF wouldn't go wrong?

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#59

Post by mfer »

SamuelAdams wrote: post #54
mfer wrote: post #49

There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of them? How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Amazon has copied many patented products to sell under their own brand. Would they do that with drugs and use the same tactics?

> How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Likely not at all. HIPAA comes into play here. Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. For non-USA amazon users, I'm sure other laws apply. Source: used to work at a big retailer and had to remind managers of this frequently when they wanted to "integrate data from all these syst…

Amazon has a history of taking patented designs, copying them, selling them for less with better visibility, and threatening patent holders. This is an element that speaks to the character of the organization.

So, that makes me wonder...

> Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes.

I wonder if they could put in their terms & conditions that you give them permission to do it.

Re: Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy for prescription medicine delivery

#60

Post by mfer »

dazc wrote: post #55
mfer wrote: post #49

There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of them? How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Amazon has copied many patented products to sell under their own brand. Would they do that with drugs and use the same tactics?

Copying prescription drugs and selling under their own brand is likely more difficult than buying generic staplers and putting a Basics label on them?

Notice, I didn't stay buying generic staplers.

One of the things recently brought up is Amazon copying the designs of patented things (not generic). Then selling copies of the patented items.

Drugs are going to be a different animal and there is regulation there which may stop it.

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