Expands Efforts to Provide Consumers with Information about the Best-working, Safest, and Often More Affordable Prescription Drugs

Hallowell, Maine, January 3, 2011—As part of its efforts to improve access to safe, effective, and affordable prescription drugs in Maine and the US, Prescription Policy Choices (PPC) has partnered with Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ to expand efforts to disseminate consumer friendly, unbiased, evidence-based information about prescription drugs. Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ provides easy to understand  advice and information on the prescription drugs used to treat more than 20 common medical conditions, including allergies, asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure, to name a few.

“There is strong consensus that consumers should be part of the equation in efforts to improve health care quality,” said PPC Executive Director Ann Woloson. “Access to credible, independent information, such asConsumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ information and materials, is critical to engaging consumers in health care decision-making. In terms of prescription drugs, quality health care means consumers get the most effective and safest drug at the right time for the right price.”

PPC will expand its outreach at the local and national levels to employees and public and private employers, as well as health care advocacy organizations and health care providers and institutions.Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ information and guides are intended to help fill a gap in consumers’ understanding of prescription medicines, by informing consumers about how drugs compare interms of their effectiveness, safety, and costs.

PPC is dedicated to improving access to affordable medicines in the face of skyrocketing health care costs. Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ relies on unbiased research about drug effectiveness prepared by the Drug Effectiveness Review Project. Such independent information helps consumers talk with health care providers about treatment options and may improve their chances of getting prescription medicine that both suits their medical needs and gives them the best value for their health care dollar.

Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs™ materials were made possible by a grant from the State Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program which is funded by the multi-state settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin.