Schnucks offers some free medicine

In the competitive grocery world, anything that brings customers in the door is worth a look. And Schnucks Markets thinks it has a winner in a new program to offer a selection of generic antibiotics at no charge.

And because a person needing one of the antibiotics is likely to need other medicines as well, the company expects to expand its pharmacy business by filling those prescriptions while it gives away medicines, company spokeswoman Lori Willis said.

"This is simply our company's way of saying we just have to step up our offerings," Willis said. "We want to set ourselves apart from the competition."

The announcement from Schnucks comes about a year after Wal-Mart announced it would sell about 150 generic medications for $4 per prescription. Other chains are also using low-cost or free generic drugs to attract customers, including Michigan-based Meijer stores, Kmart and Target.

"Hopefully we will be able to recoup the cost from the other prescriptions coming in," Willis said. "We hope to attract new customers with a program as substantial as this one.

In a prepared statement, Schnucks said it will be the first retailer in the region to offer the selection of drugs at no cost. The new policy applies to 54 generic oral antibiotics, including various doses and formulations of amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciproflaxin, doxycycline, erythromycin, penicillin and trimeth/sulfa.

The drugs chosen represent one-third of all antibiotic prescriptions filled at Schnucks's in-store pharmacies, said Bob Mueller director of pharmacy for the 102-store chain.

There are no hidden costs, Mueller said. Schnucks will not be paid for the prescriptions by a customer's insurer because insurers pay either a contract amount or the "usual and customary price." When the usual and customary price is zero, he said, the insurers will pay nothing.

For consumers, the savings will vary. For those with insurance, the co-payment for a generic drug can range from $5 to $20. For those without insurance, Mueller said, the previous retail price for the drugs ranged from about $13 to $100.

Vicki Smith, executive director of Cross Trails Medical Center, welcomed the move. More than 40 percent of the patients visiting Cross Trails have no insurance. Staff currently provide patients with a list of the drugs available at Wal-Mart for $4 and will do the same for Schnucks once the list is available, she said.

Antibiotics are generally prescribed for a specific number of doses over a period of time. Failure to complete a course of treatment can lead to a recurrence of the infection or help a germ develop resistance.

And for those who can't afford their medications, a prescription is worthless, Smith said. "I would venture to say there are a number of patients who don't get prescriptions filled because they can't afford it."

Schnucks will provide a 21-day supply of the drugs on its list.

The program began Sunday at the Cape Girardeau Schnucks on Kingshighway, store manager Dennis Marchi said. The pharmacy will be sending out letters and brochures on the program to physicians and clinics throughout the area, Marchi said.

"What we are hoping is it will bring people into our pharmacies and give us a chance to provide the rest of their medication," he said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126