Schenectady County Drug Program: A Small New York County Saves Big by Buying from Canada
While the country’s drug prices rise about 12% each year (or 76.2% in the last five years), one county in New York State has found a way to keep the increases lower than the U.S. average (Schenectady County News Release).
With a total increase rate of only 8.9% since 2005, Schenectady County in eastern New York attributes success to its Canadian Drug Program, which has saved the county and its public employees more than $13.7 million in annual drug costs. The Chairwoman of Schenectady County Legislature, Susan E. Savage, recently announced that the current expansion of their Canadian Drug Program (to include two more local unions) will save $4.2 million in 2010 alone. (more…)
