Why is MSU changing our prescription coverage to more strongly encourage use of generic medications whenever possible?
Generic medications usually cost substantially less than the brand name counterpart. A generic medication is the same as its corresponding brand name medication in dosage, safety, strength, how it is taken, quality, performance, and intended use. Before approving a generic medication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires many rigorous tests and procedures to assure that the generic medication can be substituted for the corresponding brand name medication. By law, a generic medication must contain the identical amounts of the same active ingredient(s) as the brand name product. For medication classes included in the Generic Prescribing Program, generic medications that are in the same class but are not identical to the brand name medication have not been shown to be any less effective than their brand name counterparts.
