Focus on: FamilyWize makes sure the price is right
What do consumers want most from their pharmacy visits? According to numerous surveys, shoppers want easy access to their pharmacists, good operating hours and assistance with making sure they get the best products for their particular needs. Most importantly, however, they are looking for the best possible prices and as little confusion as possible with the pharmacy’s notorious, perplexing pricing structures that can leave consumers wanting for something that is much simpler.
The complexity of the pharmacy operation has caused many consumers to hesitate when seeking to fill their scripts and, in some extreme cases, giving up on the process altogether.
That is where officials at FamilyWize, a Bethlehem, Pa.-based company devoted to getting the best prices for their consumers, think they can play a big role. The company said its mission is to partner with pharmacies across the country to negotiate prescription discounts so that consumers will receive the best possible prices on prescription medications.
Company officials said that FamilyWize’s prescription discount card is available to all consumers nationwide, whether they have health insurance or not, and the savings can be substantial.
“We use volume leverage to deliver the best possible prescription drug prices,” said Michael Carollo, the company’s director of marketing. “We lower price points on thousands of FDA-approved drugs, which plays out very well for our card users.”
Carollo said the program is simple and easy to use. Consumers only have to sign up, which is free and without restrictions, and present the printed card or the mobile app to the pharmacist. By entering their zip code and prescription drug into the “Drug Price Lookup Tool,” consumers will see the prescription drugs they need at the retail outlet with the best possible price in their area, all from their phone, tablet or computer.
Thus far, Carollo noted, the program has helped more than 13 million people save upwards of $1.5 billion on their prescription costs. “The result is Americans getting the best possible price on these drugs,” he said. “We have satisfied consumers eager to keep using our program to their advantage.”
Retailers benefit, too, Carollo said, noting that most pharmacy personnel enjoy working with FamilyWize because it keeps the consumer happy and returning to their outlet for additional sales. He quickly added that 100% of all discounts negotiated with retailers are given to the consumer. “With competition increasing so dramatically and online becoming a much larger player in the space, our program helps get the shopper to return to a brick-and-mortar store for their prescription needs,” he said. “We offer value to the retailer as they are faced with both old and new competitors.”
Educating the consumer about FamilyWize is obviously extremely important. The company uses such resources as the United Way, the American Heart Association and Mental Health America to make consumers aware of its services. “The United Way, in particular, has been a tremendous partner in reaching consumers,” Carollo said. “They have really helped us reach the local communities. All of these services help us to spread the word and to make consumers more aware of a service that saves them money.”
Teaching retailers is just as important, he said. “Educating our retail pharmacy partners is a major focus of ours,” he said. “It is so helpful when our partners tell and teach their pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that we are available as a resource for their patients. Encouraging their shoppers to use us will help save them money. Most importantly, with these benefits, we believe it will lead to patients becoming more adherent to their prescriptions.”
FamilyWize was started in 2005 by Dan and Susan Barnes. According to Carollo, Susan was a nurse who would come home and tell Dan stories of her patients returning for care again and again. “She explained to Dan that many of these patients simply could not afford the prescription medications and thus would not get better,” Carollo said. “They made it their goal to help the local community access more affordable prescriptions.”
Carollo said the company, which has about 50 employees including those in its call center, is not standing still on new benefits and programs. “We are always looking for ways to grow our company and to expand our offerings,” he said. “We are launching more ways to help the consumer save and also make it more convenient for them to price compare. We want to consolidate and streamline this process for the consumer.”
So what does the future hold for FamilyWize? Carollo is confident that over the next few years the company will continue to be an innovator in the industry while remaining a loyal partner with retailers. He said some programs are in the pipeline and others are yet to be discovered.
“We are proud of the fact that FamilyWize delivers a much-needed resource,” he said. “The more awareness of our program, the healthier consumers can be. And, for our retail partners: a healthy customer is a happy customer.”
The complexity of the pharmacy operation has caused many consumers to hesitate when seeking to fill their scripts and, in some extreme cases, giving up on the process altogether.
That is where officials at FamilyWize, a Bethlehem, Pa.-based company devoted to getting the best prices for their consumers, think they can play a big role. The company said its mission is to partner with pharmacies across the country to negotiate prescription discounts so that consumers will receive the best possible prices on prescription medications.
Company officials said that FamilyWize’s prescription discount card is available to all consumers nationwide, whether they have health insurance or not, and the savings can be substantial.
“We use volume leverage to deliver the best possible prescription drug prices,” said Michael Carollo, the company’s director of marketing. “We lower price points on thousands of FDA-approved drugs, which plays out very well for our card users.”
Carollo said the program is simple and easy to use. Consumers only have to sign up, which is free and without restrictions, and present the printed card or the mobile app to the pharmacist. By entering their zip code and prescription drug into the “Drug Price Lookup Tool,” consumers will see the prescription drugs they need at the retail outlet with the best possible price in their area, all from their phone, tablet or computer.
Thus far, Carollo noted, the program has helped more than 13 million people save upwards of $1.5 billion on their prescription costs. “The result is Americans getting the best possible price on these drugs,” he said. “We have satisfied consumers eager to keep using our program to their advantage.”
Retailers benefit, too, Carollo said, noting that most pharmacy personnel enjoy working with FamilyWize because it keeps the consumer happy and returning to their outlet for additional sales. He quickly added that 100% of all discounts negotiated with retailers are given to the consumer. “With competition increasing so dramatically and online becoming a much larger player in the space, our program helps get the shopper to return to a brick-and-mortar store for their prescription needs,” he said. “We offer value to the retailer as they are faced with both old and new competitors.”
Educating the consumer about FamilyWize is obviously extremely important. The company uses such resources as the United Way, the American Heart Association and Mental Health America to make consumers aware of its services. “The United Way, in particular, has been a tremendous partner in reaching consumers,” Carollo said. “They have really helped us reach the local communities. All of these services help us to spread the word and to make consumers more aware of a service that saves them money.”
Teaching retailers is just as important, he said. “Educating our retail pharmacy partners is a major focus of ours,” he said. “It is so helpful when our partners tell and teach their pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that we are available as a resource for their patients. Encouraging their shoppers to use us will help save them money. Most importantly, with these benefits, we believe it will lead to patients becoming more adherent to their prescriptions.”
FamilyWize was started in 2005 by Dan and Susan Barnes. According to Carollo, Susan was a nurse who would come home and tell Dan stories of her patients returning for care again and again. “She explained to Dan that many of these patients simply could not afford the prescription medications and thus would not get better,” Carollo said. “They made it their goal to help the local community access more affordable prescriptions.”
Carollo said the company, which has about 50 employees including those in its call center, is not standing still on new benefits and programs. “We are always looking for ways to grow our company and to expand our offerings,” he said. “We are launching more ways to help the consumer save and also make it more convenient for them to price compare. We want to consolidate and streamline this process for the consumer.”
So what does the future hold for FamilyWize? Carollo is confident that over the next few years the company will continue to be an innovator in the industry while remaining a loyal partner with retailers. He said some programs are in the pipeline and others are yet to be discovered.
“We are proud of the fact that FamilyWize delivers a much-needed resource,” he said. “The more awareness of our program, the healthier consumers can be. And, for our retail partners: a healthy customer is a happy customer.”