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Since last week, increased competition for customers in the prescription drug market has begun in the USA, as the US mail order giant Amazon has entered the long-awaited business with Rx drugs. From now on, patients can order prescription drugs under the Amazon Pharmacy brand in 45 states of the USA except Hawaii, Illionois, Kentucky, Louisiana and Minnesota on the website „Pharmacy.amazon.com“ and have drugs sent to their home in a „discreet package“ designated by the company. However, no drugs with addiction or abuse potential are shipped, such as opioids, fentanyl, methadone and ritalin. Amazon requires a prime account for this, however, then the login process is child’s play. A cooperation with most health insurers in the USA is already working, so that prescription drugs are covered. Self-payers without insurance participation are even lured with high bonus payments; prime customers receive up to 80 percent discount on generics and up to 40 percent on original preparations. Various pricing models including different co-payment levels are therefore also offered if the health insurance company is included. The prescription can be forwarded to Amazon Pharmacy directly after the medical treatment or to the health insurer. A third-party provider such as Walmart or CVS as an intermediary can also be brought on board. These have long feared and fought off the competition. Amazon’s Pharmaceuticals Division also cooperates with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), who negotiate discounts – including with health insurers – in the USA and negotiate rebates with manufacturers. Since „Pillpack“ became part of the mail-order business in 2018, blistered medications for chronic patients have also been sent by post. Pillpack started as a start-up under its founder TJ Parker and is now a subunit of Amazon Pharmacy. Parker is the Vice President. Especially in times of crisis, such as the Covid 19 pandemic, the mailing of blister-packed Rx drugs is becoming increasingly popular because patients feel safer if they can order from home. It also saves time and money. Industry experts estimate that the Amazon Care sub-unit will also be increasingly expanded in the coming years. Amazon plans to build an „entire health care ecosystem“ involving insurers, innovative telemedicine services and drug delivery. To this end, the IT company Health Navigator was acquired. Individual European countries are the focus of the giant, along with the USA.

Source: Apotheke Adhoc