The statement was delivered by Elizabeth Wright, Director of CAGW's Health and Science Division. Warfarin is a blood thinner and is considered a NTI drug. In other states, legislatures are now considering passing tougher regulations for dispensing generic pharmaceuticals. If these laws pass, they also will limit choice and drive up the costs, not only to consumers and private insurance companies, but to the taxpayers as well. CAGW objects to this failure to spend tax dollars wisely.
Many states have programs that provide pharmaceuticals to the poor and the elderly.
Using generics saves more tax dollars. But if doctors and pharmacists have to go through extraordinary hoops to prescribe a generic drug, the generic will simply not be dispensed to the consumer. This will raise the cost of these government programs to taxpayers and will decrease care in other areas. Dupont Merck may claim these restrictive laws are necessary because of safety issues. The study released today proves just the opposite.