Cheaper Birth Control – for Most of Us

Consumerist reports that Target will be following Wal-Mart’s lead in offering a generic alternative to expensive birth-control pills – a one month’s supply at $9 compared to $30 for a namebrand version – but only in states that don’t prohibit it. As TwinCities.com reports:

Laws in Minnesota, Wisconsin and seven other states prevent pharmacies from selling drugs below their true cost. As a result, Wal-Mart will charge more to consumers here for nine of the 24 drugs being added to its generic discount program.In the case of a generic birth control pill called Tri-Sprintec, two Wal-Mart pharmacies in the Twin Cities on Friday were selling a one-month supply for $26.88.

“We cannot provide the $9 for the three women’s health drugs in those states,” said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Deisha Galberth, referring to Tri-Sprintec as well as a second birth control drug and a fertility treatment.

Minneapolis-based Target is expected to comply with local restrictions as well, meaning consumers in nine states (including its own) will not be offered the cheap alternative to dollar-a-day birth control. While these prohibitive measures against generic drugs were originally put in place to curtail the power of retail giants, we’ve got to wonder if the real losers here are the customers, not the chains.

[via Consumerist]