Military beneficiaries switches ED drugs due to price rise
February 09, 2006

Due to a jump of $22 in their co-payment for Viagra, almost 16,000 military beneficiaries being treated for erectile dysfunction last year decided to change medicine, and did so over just four months. They switched to the other erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Levitra, the only ED still on the military's "uniform formulary." As a brand-name drug on the formulary, Levitra's co-payment is $9 whether obtained in the Tricare retail network or by mail-order.

Also the formulary prescriptions are filled for at a base pharmacy. Patient behavior with Viagra and other drug classes moved on the formulary show the powerful effect of raising co-payments. Co-pays do change market share as patients switch from one drug to another. Getting 6.6 million current users of the military pharmacy benefit to make more cost-effective choices is critical to department plans to lower the trajectory of soaring pharmacy costs. Cialis, Viagra and Levitra are the most popular drugs available for treating ED.

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