The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, April 10, 1986, Image 1

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VC2thor: Mistly sunny and mild
today with a high of 63. Light south
westerly winds. Clear and cool to
night with a low of 37. Friday's fore
cast calls for continued clear skies
and warm temperatures.
NU basketball recruits
are close to signing
Sports, page 15
'Rolling Rep' to
stage two play
Diversions, page 7
S
April 10, 1986
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Rivera
Rivera says times
By Michael Hooper
Staff Reporter
Geraldo Rivera said his "street
fighter" approach to journalism can
apply to everyone's life because
"everyone should be involved in
social change."
Speaking to a crowd of more than
1,000 Wednesday night, Rivera said
events like Live Aid, Farm Aid and
Hearing Aid are good.
"I think compassion is getting
hip again," he said, "and I think
that is good."
Eivera, a termer reporter for AEC's
2020 spoke in the Nebraska Union
as part of UPC's Talks and Topics
and Journalism Days. - -
Most reporters believe it is their
cameras, Eivera said. Est that is rxt
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: Social c?e is a lers frccers,
are a changirf
he said. Publicity on problems in
society helps at times, he said. For
example, he said that after his
report on Midwestern farmers called
"Seeds of Hate" was aired, the anti
Semitic movement that contended
there was a conspiracy of Jewish
bankers in an effort to take all of the
land away from farmers died
down.
Although that story wasn't per
fect, he said, it was accurate in its
particulars and in its intended
impact of slowing the growth of
the anti-Semitic movement.
Hivera recently left his position
on 2020 because; he said, ABC
news directors would net air. a
report cn the desih of Marilyn Mon
roe because of alleged ties with the
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hppy til if the tine," lUvera said.
; Bat fcs said he is at peace withMm
D. T
ailly
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
yirey: Most p triees lweir
at tune UWL Healtlh Cemitteir
By Christine Graves
Staff Reporter
University Health Center pharmacy
prices are lower than most area phar
macies, according to a medication cost
survey conducted by the Health Center's
student advisory board.
Of the 10 most-used prescription
drugs among students surveyed, six
were cheaper at the Health Center, and
four cost more.
Health Center medical director, Dr.
Gerald Fleischli, said the drugs chosen
were the "best approximation" of how
the center's prices compare with those
at community pharmacies.
The survey was a representative
sampling that included private, grocery
store and national discount department
store chain pharmacies in Lincoln.
The Health Center declined to name
the surveyed pharmacies, but Doug
Martin, student advisory board chair
man, said the survey is representative
of the pharmacies students normally
patronize.
Conducted two weeks ago, the survey
revealed birth control pills are 80
percent cheaper at the Health Center.
The average area pharmacy charges
$34.61 for a three-month supply of
Ortho Novum and Triphasil. The Health
Center charges $6.75 for both brands of
contraceptives.
The pain reliever Motrin is 63 percent
more expensive at the Health Center
than at the surveyed pharmacies. Motrin
costs $10.40 at the Health Center and is
an average of $6.58 at local pharmacies.
The average cost of the generic
equivalent of Motrin at area pharmacies
was $4.89, but the Health Center does
not sell generic Motrin.
Penicillin, an antibiotic used pri
marily to treat bacterial infections, is
sold for $3.85 at the Health Center.
According to the survey, the average
cost of the drug at local pharmacies is
$8.15.
, The comparison revealed a 36 percent
difference in the cost of the inhaler
Proventil, which is prescribed for
asthma, and sells for $4.55 at the
Health Center. Area pharmacies charge
an average of $12.41.
The two most common drugs pre
scribed for vaginitis were less expensive
at the Health Center. The average cost
for 250 milligrams of Flagyl at the local
Increase in
not inclu
pel Liefer !n!ietQls:.
4 V m '-y s
By Molly Adams
Staff Reporter
' i.- k f t fe i'i . l. Ir.' m
While Gov. Bob Kerrey has until
midnight to present his line-item vetoes
to the Legislature, he said Wednesday
morning that it is "unlikely" a 3
percent increase in state employee
salaries would be included in the
vetoes.
Kerrey said state employees "deserve
an increase," and would ask to keep
the salary bill as part of the budget.
As senators wait for the governor's
pharmacies was $19. The health center
sells the product for $4.80.
Monistat-7, a creme used to treat
vaginitis, is sold for $7.40 at the center
and an average of $13.27 at area stores.
Of two common antibiotics chosen,
only one was higher at area pharmacies.
Erythromycin capsules, an antibiotic
prescribed for bacterial infections, sells
Clinics supply
the pill to student
5
at discount rates
By Use Olsen
Senior Reporter
The Health Center's birth control
pills are about 80 percent cheaper
than those at the average commun
ity pharmacy because major com
panies like Ortho and Parke Davis
sell the packets to student clinics
f,i a big discount, a Health Center
pharmacist said. ..
Eig medical sup;!y ccr;:."ics
sell to student clinics to cr.ccurae
students to use their products, -said
Pat Karley, Health Center pharma
cist. By developing product loyalty
in students, the companies can earn
large profits after their customers
graduate to larger salaries when
they can afford the higher costs.
Pill-makers have sold birth con
trol pills at a discount for more than
16 years, Harley said.
"It's kind of a courtesy thing,"
she said.
Such companies require that
those who receive the pills be I.D.
carryingstudents. By providing "the
pill" at an affordable rate, big com
panies may be keeping some stu
dents in school, Harley said.
Planned Parenthood, which has
two clinic locations in Lincoln, also
sells birth control pills at a discount.
Clinic discounts stem from the buy
ing power of the 200 affiliates in the
Planned Parenthood Federation of
America. Federal support from "Title
10" also allows the clinics to dis
pense birth control at cost or some
times below cost, said Susan Alex
ander, director of Education for
Planned Parenthood.
Sea THE PSLL on 3
state employee salaries
Silt. ' t III! J I
m u e i t
recommendations, Kerrey said he is
finding that the Legislature "recognizes
the need" for cuts in this year's $846.2
million state budget.
"There is agreement that reductions
are necessary," he said, "but dis
agreement on how much."
Kerrey said cuts could start at $30
million and potentially increase to $43
million.
"All the cuts that I will offer (to the
Legislature) will be substantial," he
said, "and we're going to have to say
'no' to things we like."
Vol.85 No. 136
for $10.15 at the center and an average
of $12.83 at area pharmacies.
The average cost of 250 milligrams of
Tetracycline at local pharmacies is
$3.29. The Health Center sells the same
amount for $3.80. Tetracycline is an
antibiotic used to treat general infec
tions such as upper respiratory tract
infections.
Tagamet, a drug used to cut down on
acid secretions caused by ulcers, was
another drug priced slightly higher at
the Health Center. According to the
study, Tagamet sells for $13.30 at the
Health Center, while area pharmacies
charge an average of $ 1 3.09.
The survey results will be used as a
"day-to-day piece of information to
answer student's questions (on price
comparisons)," Fleischli said.
He said there are no immediate
plans to raise pharmacy prices. Instead
the Health Center will continue trying
to save students money, Fleischli said.
The center's pharmacy is able to
offer lower costs to students because
UNL has non-profit status and is a state
organization, Fleischli said.
"Many drug companies offer special
rates for non-profit organizations," he
said.
The state of Nebraska contracts with
drug companies for the lowest prices
available, Fleischli said. So as a state
agency, the Health Center's pharma
ceutical needs are combined with other
agencies' needs to strike the best price
for volume purchases, he said.
As a result the Health Center buys
its prescription drugs from the state
rather than independent drug com
panies. Under this system, "we have restric
tions of who we can sell to. . .essen
tially students," Fleischli said.
Some of the higher costs at the
Health Center pharmacy can be attri
buted to the different formulas each
pharmacy uses to calculate its costs,
Fleischli said. Pharmacies consider
factors such as the pharmacist's time
and profit markup in determining their
cost to consumers.
The Health Center's pharmacy has to
"cover the cost of its operation,"
Fleischli said.
Members of the student advisory
board speculated that competition
between area pharmacies helps hold
down prices.
Kerrey says
Kerrey said he is ready to argue with
the people of the state that the budget
needs to be reduced in a "major way."
Sen. Gary Hannibal of Omaha, member
of the Appropriations Committee, said
that because the university budget is
25 percent of the state budget, it would
be "illogical to assume that the univer
sity wouldn't play a part in budget
cuts."
Hannibal said Kerrey has given the
Legislature "very little to go on" as to
what he will do.
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