Check Drug Cost
Market: Complex patients managing multiple medications
Scenario: A 65-year-old patient receives a prescription for a new medication or experiences changes to an existing prescription. They compare prices at different pharmacies and online sources, aiming to find the lowest cost option before filling the prescription at a nearby pharmacy to save money.
Average Difficulty: Severe (40%+ Range)
81 Outcomes 14% to 93% Difficulty
Research Insights
The study identified specific opportunities for improving the Check Drug Cost experience. While CVS Caremark members face less difficulty compared to the broad market, patients still encounter challenges in various job steps, such as gathering prescription details, determining price accuracy, exploring alternative options, and making decisions on how to fill their medications.
Job Steps
1. Receive new prescription or notification of prescription changes
2. Gather prescription details to check drug cost
3. Provide drug name, dosage, and form
4. Determine if price is accurate/good/bad
5. Explore alternatives when too expensive
6. Make decision how to fill medication (e.g., in store, 30 day, 90 day, or fill by mail, online through website)
Themes Identified
- Information and Options: Need for increased information about drug formulas, medication availability, and expanded medication listings.
- Ease of Change: Desire for simplified processes when changing pharmacies due to relocation or cost factors.
- Decision Support: Importance of enhanced sorting and filtering capabilities for drug details, addressing barriers to medication access, and flexibility in prescription supply management.
Recommendations
- Enhance information clarity and accessibility regarding drug formulas, availability, and pricing changes to empower patients in making informed decisions about their medications.
- Streamline the process of changing pharmacies due to relocation or cost concerns, minimizing the time and effort required for patients to adapt.
- Provide comprehensive search results, including a wide range of pharmacies, medications, and pricing details, while offering intuitive sorting and filtering options.
Cautions
- Avoid overwhelming patients with excessive or irrelevant drug information, focusing instead on presenting clear, concise, and pertinent details to support decision-making.
- Refrain from implementing complex or time-consuming processes for patients to update their prescription information or communicate with their doctors about medication changes.
- Steer clear of limiting patients' options for medication supply, as many express a desire to stock up on prescriptions for various reasons.
Outcomes
The difficulty percent below are the percent of the market that finds this outcome difficult to achieve.
| Difficulty | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 93% | Increase information about different drug pricing in different states |
| 86% | Increase my ability to stock up on prescriptions in case of upcoming price change |
| 86% | Decrease the impact of medication changes based on location |
| 76% | Increase the ease of changing the pharmacy where my medications are delivered when I move |
| 72% | Decrease barriers to getting medication (e.g., inability to travel due to disability, social challenges) |
| 71% | Increase my ability to stock up on prescriptions when I travel |
| 71% | Minimize the risk that I would be shown the wrong drug results (e.g., wrong mix, form, etc...) |
| 70% | Increase my ability to sort and filter drug details in results by distance |
| 67% | Increase my understanding that coupons can be used instead of my insurance |
| 65% | Increase the ease of changing the pharmacy where I pick up medications when I move |
| 64% | Maximize the number of available promotions for me |
| 61% | Increase my ability to send alternative drug information directly to my doctor |
| 60% | Increase the amount of supply I have on-hand (e.g., narrow windows of running out) |
| 59% | Decrease the time it takes to change pharmacy if they are too expensive |
| 59% | Increase my ability to control the supply (e.g., 30 days, 90 days) |
| 58% | Minimize changes to the amount of pills that I am used to getting |
| 55% | Increase the likelihood that a pharmacy will reach out if I am prescribed an expensive medication |
| 54% | Decrease the time it takes to change how I receive my important drugs (e.g., Mail order, pick up) |
| 54% | Increase my ability to sort and filter drug details in results by price (high or low) |
| 53% | Increase information about drug formula suitable for me (e.g., manufacturer differences) |
| 53% | Increase the number of 120 days or longer supply options |
| 53% | Increase the number of prescriptions that are sent by email |
| 51% | Minimize the risk that I would misspell the name of the drug |
| 51% | Decrease the number of expensive medications that I am prescribed |
| 51% | Increase information about why the price changed |
| 50% | Increase my ability to select what drug information is displayed |
| 50% | Decrease the time it takes to get price information if the drug is not listed |
| 49% | Decrease the amount of non-useful drug information |
| 49% | Decrease the time it takes to get communication about prescription changes |
| 48% | Increase information about cost or supply changes |
| 48% | Increase my options if an important medication becomes unavailable |
| 48% | Decrease the time it takes for the doctor to call me back |
| 47% | Decrease my worries about availability of my medication |
| 46% | Increase my ability to forward prescription information (e.g., to a different pharmacy or doctor) |
| 46% | Increase information about drug form suitable for me (e.g., liquid, pill, cream) |
| 44% | Increase my ability to compare cost of different medication filling options |
| 44% | Increase the chances of a lower price option being recommended to me |
| 44% | Increase the number of price comparisons sources |
| 44% | Increase the details of the cost options (e.g., shipping and fees) |
| 43% | Increase the number of different medication options from my doctor |
| 43% | Increase the ease of changing pharmacy if they are too expensive |
| 40% | Increase the delivery options available to me (pick up, delivery) |
| 39% | Minimize the time it takes for a doctor to change my prescription |
| 39% | Increase the amount of notice about shipping times |
| 37% | Increase the ease of getting medication delivered |
| 36% | Increase my opportunities to get my questions answered about a medication change |
| 35% | Increase the number of choices of pharmacies and fulfillment options (e.g., pick-up and shipping options) |
| 34% | Increase my doctors' respect for what I tell them that I can afford |
| 34% | Increase number of pharmacies that carry my medications |
| 34% | Increase my understanding that savings opportunities are available |
| 34% | Increase the number of prescriptions that are written/printed |
| 33% | Minimize time spent managing prescriptions |
| 33% | Increase the number of medications listed |
| 31% | Increase the visibility of savings between drug options |
| 30% | Increase my options if an important medication becomes too costly |
| 30% | Increase information about different drug pricing in different pharmacies |
| 30% | Increase visibility into my insurance coverage amount when on an expensive drug |
| 30% | Increase the visibility of savings based on volume ordering (e.g., 90 day supply instead of 30 day supply) |
| 29% | Increase the number of medications that can be auto renewed |
| 28% | Increase number of prescriptions that are auto-renewed |
| 27% | Increase my ability to manage my prescriptions on my phone |
| 26% | Increase my confidence that I am getting the best price |
| 25% | Increase my ability to stay on the medication(s) that my body is dependent on |
| 25% | Increase the ease of contacting my doctor |
| 23% | Increase my opportunities to get my questions answered about a new medication |
| 23% | Decrease time it takes to get drug information |
| 23% | Increase the accuracy of cost based on my location |
| 22% | Increase efficiency of getting prescription information from pill bottle |
| 21% | Increase number of prescriptions that are auto-refilled |
| 21% | Increase clarity of drug information for my prescription |
| 20% | Increase the number of prescriptions that have both the brand and generic name |
| 19% | Decrease the distance I need to travel to get the medication |
| 14% | Increase the amount of relevant drug information |
