Variability of Retail Pricing of Generic Urologic Medications in a Major US Metropolitan Area.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate retail pricing for generic urologic medications in the St. Louis area as a function of pharmacy type, zip-code, and median income. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacies spanning 51 zip-codes were identified. From May-June 2017, pharmacies were inquired regarding cost, without insurance, for 30- and 90-tablet prices for finasteride 5 mg, tamsulosin 0.4 mg, oxybutynin 5 mg, and oxybutynin extended release (ER) 5 mg and 10 mg. Median income was determined using US census data. K-means clustering defined groupings based on zip-code, median income, and a combination of the two. Pricing between groups and pharmacy type was compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Associations between pricing and median income were tested using Spearman's rho. RESULTS: 152 chain and 16 independent pharmacies provided data. Retail pricing for generic urologic medications did not vary as a function of zip-code, median income, or a combination of the two. There was a significant difference in the pricing of tamsulosin 0.4 mg, and oxybutynin ER 5 mg and 10 mg based on pharmacy type, where independent pharmacies have significantly lower prices compared to chain (P = .00-.00003). CONCLUSION: Pricing for generic urologic medications demonstrated wide variability at the retail pharmacy level. Compared to chain, independent pharmacies have significantly lower pricing for tamsulosin 0.4 mg, and oxybutynin ER 5 mg and 10 mg. Pharmacy zip-code, median income, and a combination of the two did not correlate with pricing.