Concerns are on the rise over a major drug company's plans for free medication. Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company, has a new program that allows people who lose their jobs in 2009 to keep their Pfizer prescriptions for free but, only through the mail. Pharmacist Brian Caswell says the mail-order only program cuts out the pharmacist and that means they can't ensure multiple medicines interact safely or check for allergies the patient may have to the medication. He says that's different than many other programs that help patients when paying for their prescriptions.

"Taking that part out of the process puts the patient at risk," said Brian Caswell, pharmacist at Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs, Kan. "The risks are a visit to a physician or a hospital or hospital stay for any length of time and those are costly issues." Caswell says he would recommend this program to a patient who meets all the qualifications.