(A231) Out-of-Pocket Savings on Most Prescribed Medications in Otolaryngology Through Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company

Introduction: Increasing prescription drug costs in the United States contribute to treatment nonadherence. The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company (MCCPDC) offers direct-to-consumer prescription medications with a transparent pricing model designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs. This study evaluates the cost-saving potential of MCCPDC compared to traditional insurance coverage for commonly prescribed otolaryngologic medications.

Methods: In this study, the top 50 prescribed medications by otolaryngologists were identified using the Medicare Part D Prescriber dataset. Out-of-pocket costs were evaluated for 30-day and 90-day supplies and compared to out-of-pocket costs for various insurance plans from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The difference between MCCPDC and average insurance costs was evaluated. Two sample t-tests were performed for comparative analysis.

Results: The median estimated savings were highest when purchasing 30-day prescriptions through MCCPDC compared to using federal insurance ($63.70), Medicaid ($4.40), and Medicare ($3.62). For CHAMPVA ($-1.76), and Tricare ($-2.95), patients paid more when using MCCPDC. For the 90-day supply, median estimated savings were highest with MCCPDC compared to state government ($48.92), Medicaid ($17.59), Medicare ($11.46), Tricare ($8.81), private insurance ($8.05), and CHAMPVA ($5.58). Out-of-pocket costs between MCCPDC and Medicare were statistically significant ($21.28 vs $130.36, p< 0.05). The three drugs with the greatest average savings through MCCPDC compared to traditional insurances are Mupirocin ($63.30), Mometasone Furoate ($42.01), and Clindamycin HCl ($29.98) for 30-day prescriptions, and Mometasone Furoate ($504.72), Ondansetron ($476.12), and Azelastine HCl ($182.02) for 90-day prescriptions.

Conclusions: This study underscores MCCPDC’s potential to reduce out-of-pocket costs on commonly prescribed otolaryngologic medications. With the MCCPDC platform, healthcare providers can guide patients toward affordable prescription options, potentially improving overall health outcomes.