Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, announced www.rx.nyhealth.gov, a new website which permits consumers to easily compare prescription drug prices for the 150 most-prescribed drugs at their neighborhood pharmacies. The website is maintained by the State Department of Health.

"People don't have time to go from pharmacy-to-pharmacy comparing prices of drugs. This new website makes it easy for everyone to get the information they need at their fingertips," said Senator Hannon.

The website searches prescription prices by zip code, city and county and provides brand and generic prices, pharmacy addresses, phone numbers and directions.

Other features of the website include:

-Regular price updates for the 150 most frequently prescribed drugs

-Data for all pharmacies which participated in Medicaid (89% of New York pharmacies are Medicaid participants)

-Prices for prescriptions at their most common quantity, strength and dosage

-A "Frequently Asked Questions" page

-A "Contact Us" page

-A consumer information section with links to websites providing information on prescriptions and programs to help consumers obtain their medications

State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines said, "Informed consumers are smarter shoppers. This website will help people check prices so they can lower their personal cost of prescription drugs and use their health care dollars wisely."

"I hope this website also encourages pharmacies to keep prices as low as possible. When people see one pharmacy is charging much more than another, drug stores will be more inclined to charge less in order to attract more customers," added Senator Hannon.