Prescribe Thoughtfully
You’re involved in your patient’s physical well-being. But, your decisions also affect your patient’s financial health.
In support of this, Hopkins providers and leaders encourage the prescribing of therapeutic equivalents: options that are chemically different but have the same effect as brand-name drugs.
Therapeutic equivalents are often generic medications, which are typically available at the lowest cost to patients. Brand-name therapeutic equivalents may also be available at lower cost, by selecting a preferred brand [tier 2] from the patient’s formulary.
In addition to the immediate savings through lower co-pays, patients benefit in the long-term through lower premiums. Studies also show that patients prescribed generic medications to treat chronic conditions are 62% more likely to be adherent to treatment than those prescribed highest-tier brands.*
Please do your part and save your patients money by prescribing cost-effective medications. Access the Alternative Drug Guide for EHP members or download and print our Cost Effective Alternative Guide. Call the Johns Hopkins Health Plans Pharmacy Department at 1-888-819-1043 with any questions.
Oral Contraceptives
Hopkins providers and leaders encourage the prescribing of therapeutic equivalents: options that are chemically different but have the same effect as brand-name drugs. Therapeutic equivalent oral contraceptives are generic versions of brand-name oral contraceptives.
Generic oral contraceptives offer substantial savings for EHP patients, since most EHP employers offer coverage of generic oral contraceptives at no cost ($0 copay). Members should refer to their schedule of benefits to determine if their benefit includes $0 oral contraceptives. Below is a list of commonly prescribed oral contraceptive brands and alternatives to these to consider.
Commonly-Prescribed Brands | Alternative(s) to Consider |
---|---|
Monophasic Oral Contraceptives with norethindrone | |
Loestrin 24 Fe | Junel 1/20, Microgestin 1/20 (generics for Loestrin) |
LoLoestrin Fe | Junel FE 1/20, Microgestin FE 1/20 (generics for Loestrin Fe) |
Generess FE Chew | |
Monophasic Oral Contraceptives with drospirenone | |
Beyaz | Ocella, Zarah (generics for Yasmin) |
Safyral | Gianvi, Loryna (generics for Yaz) |
Triphasic Oral Contraceptives | |
Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo | Tri-Sprintec, Trinessa (generics for Ortho Tri-Cyclen) |
*Shrank et al. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166: 332-7.