Wal-Mart expands affordable drug program
May 6, 2008
There's been so much press on Wal-Mart's decision to cut the price of prescription drugs yet again. The mega-retailer's original $4 prescription plan completely changed the face of the business. Generic meds now account for an overwhelming number of prescriptions in the United States. Wal-Mart played a big role in breaking the stranglehold that Big Pharma's TV ads had on the market.
Now Wal-Mart's program is being expanded to allow a 90-day supply for $10. Target has immediately matched the deal. While you'll save $2 over 3 months, Wal-Mart and Target benefit by saving on the cost of labor. Wal-Mart is also making its private label brand, Equate, available on the list of approved drugs.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Meanwhile, the June edition of Consumer Reports names the best pharmacies based on price and service. Costco is tops when it comes to saving on brand-name drugs. The warehouse club can be hundreds of dollars cheaper over the life of a prescription than the big chain drugstores like Walgreens and Rite-Aid. The beauty of Costco's pharmacy is that you do not have to be a member to use it. Some Costcos even have a separate pharmacy entrance for non-members to cut down on the risk of shoplifting.
If you're looking for the best service, Consumer Reports says you should try an independently owned pharmacy. Indies get a score of 92 out of 100 for service, while Costco only gets a respectable 85. Meanwhile, if you use a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) through your work, Cigna and Aetna are dead last. They get the lowest marks in the shopping experience category. On the flip side, Caremark has been singled out as the best PBM.
Laser technology not making inroads in dentistry field
May 5, 2008
Back in the '90s, Clark first talked about breakthrough laser technology being developed for the dentistry field. He went for a cleaning shortly after and discovered his dentist was very upset with him. Several other customers heard Clark on the air and were already asking about the laser! It turns out the technology is very expensive, but it eliminates most of the discomfort for common dental procedures.
USA Today now reports that less than 10% of dentists use laser technology. Yet if people become aware of the laser, they'll ask for it and dentists may comply just to seize market share. Dentists also would be able to charge more for laser services.
Clark has an old filling that he needs replaced. Why should he go the Novocain route when he can have the laser instead? There's even a special laser for root canals that reduces discomfort and the time you're in the chair by 30 minutes.
Laser could be a very promising option for people who take care of their teeth. But 1 out of 3 people don't get dental care in the United States. We're a developed country, yet we have people with rotting teeth! Clark thinks one possible solution would be to allow dental techs to do a special 2-year program that certifies them for basic dental procedures. Such a plan has already been enacted in Alaska.
A new breed of hearing aids for the iPod generation?
April 17, 2008
As Clark's mom has aged, she's been struggling with diminished hearing ability. But this problem is not just limited to seniors. The younger iPod generation will probably suffer premature hearing loss because the device's in-ear buds really tax your hearing. ... More
Exercise can slow the aging process
February 1, 2008
Clark is obsessed with exercise. He doesn't feel right unless he works out every day, which may say more about the psychological than the physical. Exercise helps him relax and relieve stress. Interestingly, he doesn't do it to be fit or in good health. ... More
Nurse-in-a-box alleviates emergency room crunch
January 25, 2008
Recently there was a story that got huge media coverage about the long waits in hospital emergency rooms. Those in dire or critical condition endure waits that are up 40 percent over the last 7 years. The wait time for heart attack victims is up 300 percent! It's as if the emergency rooms have had a nervous breakdown because they're a catch-all for the uninsured, the urgent care patients and those who have been critically injured in accidents. Triage nurses have to see everyone, play traffic cop and hope they don't make a fatal error. ... More
More recent Health and Healthcare Tips from Clark:- Health insurers in the hot seat
- Kroger expanding its $4 discount drug program
- Exercise can slow the aging process
- Nurse-in-a-box alleviates emergency room crunch
- Pharmacists should be empowered to write prescriptions
- Price war brewing in the health insurance field
- Diet, exercise the keys to sustained weight loss
- Consumer Reports ranks the best and worst health clubs
- Two sides of the healthcare benefit coin
- Exploring the three-star nutrition labeling program
