Hartford: Rx Inflation Due to New Drugs No Better than Generics

Newer doesn't necessarily mean better. This is especially true with prescription drugs. The cost of prescription drugs for workers' compensation patients rose by 10 to 20 percent in 2003, due in large part to an increase in the use of newer, more costly prescription drugs where older, less expensive drugs would be just as effective. Drugs such as Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra are frequently being used in place of drugs such as ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are just as effective as their expensive brand name counterparts. "Three big drivers in the cost of pre...