Amazon has introduced a feature that reportedly makes it easier for diabetes patients to get discounted medications through its online platform.
The company revealed on Tuesday that Amazon Pharmacy will now automatically apply manufacturer-sponsored coupons to over 15 insulin and diabetes medications.
Roughly 12.4% — or over 2 million — adult Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Increasing obesity rates have contributed significantly to the growing number of type 2 diabetes cases in the state, a trend that has not escaped the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which was ranked the 19th fattest metro area last year.
For diabetics dependent on insulin, the out-of-pocket expense can be a heavy burden, however, as previously reported by The Dallas Express, the three largest insulin makers — Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi — announced in March that they would be slashing their prices for approved generic medications by up to 75% by 2024.
Still, a report published in July from Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) found that diabetes patients were still facing bills amounting to hundreds of dollars a month for insulin.
“Patients must unravel a confusing thicket of coupons, competing generic drugs, and misleading information to get their insulin,” reads the report.
One study found that 85% of manufacturer-sponsored coupons for insulin went unused.
Amazon Pharmacy’s shift to automatic discounts will mean diabetic customers will no longer have to manually search for and enter coupons provided by the drugmakers. The price cut is significant, with a month’s supply of insulin available for as low as $35.
ADA CEO Charles Henderson applauded the online retailer’s initiative to automatically apply eligible discounts on its platform.
“We want those in the diabetes community to be able to make informed decisions about their diabetes care and medication costs,” Henderson said, according to Reuters.
With Amazon Pharmacy, customers will also be able to profit from free delivery services and 24/7 assistance from pharmacists.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, Amazon has been slowly edging into the healthcare sector over the past few years. It recently expanded its virtual healthcare service, Amazon Clinic, which facilitates customers’ connections with certain telemedicine services.
