The premise of the Best Buy Drugs program is that informed prescription drug consumers will be better shoppers. Within various classes of drugs that physicians prescribe for certain conditions, the program identifies those that are the most effective and safe for the least amount of money. A Best Buy Drug is one that is in the top tier of effectiveness in its category, has a safety record equal to or better than other drugs in the category, and typically, has an average retail price that is substantially lower than the most costly drug in the category.

To date, Consumer Reports has selected Best Buy Drugs in 17 categories. In some cases, consumers have saved thousands of dollars per year by following the recommendations. The drug evaluations and “Best Buys” are available at www.crbestbuydrugs.org. For a paper copy, call the Minnesota Senior Federation Health Plan Information Center at 651/783-5045 or 866/783-5045. These easy-to-understand reports equip consumers to talk with their providers and pharmacists about their specific situation and any alternatives that might be appropriate for them.

Because of individual differences, the “best buy” selected for each category of drug may or may not be the best prescription for any given person. Also, individual health issues and insurance coverage may not always align with the Consumer Reports information. Nevertheless, the information provides a basis for consumers to discuss options with their physicians and to understand the doctor's specific reasoning in the event he or she does not concur with a Best Buy recommendation.

Besides Consumers Union and the Minnesota Senior Federation, other participants in the Minnesota effort to promote the Best Buy Drugs program are The Prescription Project, the Minnesota Medical Association, the Minnesota Pharmacists Association, the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and major health plans in the state. The Prescription Project, which promotes science-based practice of medicine, is leading a national initiative to ensure that prescribing decisions are based on information that is accurate and unbiased. The group chose Minnesota for its first project because of the state's leadership on the issue of medical conflicts of interest, said executive director, Robert Restuccia. Both the Prescription Project and Consumers Union have initiatives in other states as well.

The public education project in Minnesota encourages consumers to use the Best Buy Drugs program to make decisions based on the best scientific evidence available, rather than drug industry hype. The pharmaceutical industry reportedly spends $12 billion per year on marketing to physicians and $4.5 billion per year advertising to consumers.

All parties in the Minnesota collaboration - the Minnesota Senior Federation, physicians, health plans, pharmacists and consumers - bring back to their respective groups key information on evidence-based prescribing. They are finding ways to incorporate these messages into their activities involving prescription drugs and prescribing. For example, one of the larger provider groups, HealthPartners, has a link to the web site for Best Buy Drugs on their computer desktops. This gives them quick access to the latest information on categories of drugs and allows them to compare a drug they are considering prescribing for a patient with the Best Buy Drug information. Minnesota participants also worked with Consumer Reports to make Best Buy Drugs information available to physicians on their handheld computers, or PDAs.

The Senior Federation has launched a consumer education program designed for community groups of all ages. Presentations on Best Buy Drugs have been given to thousands of individuals. Posters encouraging dialogue between physicians and patients on “Best Buys” have been distributed to clinics to hang in exam rooms and waiting rooms. Work is also under way to place computer kiosks in physicians' offices statewide to provide easy access to Best Buy Drug reports so that patients and physicians can discuss them. The Senior Federation is hearing directly in one-to-one meetings, focus groups and ongoing discussions with doctors, pharmacists and health plans how great the need is for this information.

Consumers who have attended Senior Federation presentations or called the organization's telephone helpline have said Best Buy Drugs information was invaluable as a basis for more informed conversations with their physicians.

Minnesota's efforts began in 2006 when the Senior Federation agreed to conduct consumer education on the Best Buy Drugs project. Work on the Minnesota project was expanded recently with a two-year grant for $400,000 from the Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program to the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. The grant's objective is to support the ongoing collaboration and evaluate its impact. The grant compares project data and evaluates advocacy efforts such as the distribution of Consumer Reports reports on paper and Best Buy Drug information kiosks at practitioner sites and clinics.

Available Best Buy drug reports:

• Treating Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke-Antiplatelets
• High Cholesterol, Heart Disease - The Statins
• Heartburn, Acid Reflux Disease - The PPIs
• Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
• Overactive Bladder
• Insomnia
• Asthma and Lung Disease - Inhaled Steroids
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Migraine Headaches - The Triptans
• Menopause - Female Hormones
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Allergies, Hay Fever and Hives - Antihistamines
• Angina, High Blood Pressure - Calcium Channel Blockers
• Osteoarthritis, Pain - NSAIDs
• High Blood Pressure, Heart Failure - ACE Inhibitors
• Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure -ÊBeta Blockers
• Antidepressants

Reports planned for the near future will cover diabetes, severe pain, osteoporosis and prostate enlargement.

The Best Buy Drugs project is funded by grants from Engelberg Foundation and National Libraries of Medicine. The Prescription Project is an initiative of Community Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that advocates for consumer and community participation in shaping of the U.S. health system. Community Catalyst is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.