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Governor Brian Schweitzer is floating another plan to reduce prescription drug costs in Montana; on Thursday he sat down with pharmaceutical company representatives to discuss how to do it.

Numbers show that approximately 71% of the time, Medicaid patients in Montana use generic drugs, and Schweitzer says that isn't enough, stating, "That is not acceptable, when it comes to penny-pinching we like to be number one, so we are going to get there."

Schweitzer sat down with representatives from Teva Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of generic drugs, to discuss how Montana can cut the cost of prescription drugs to the Medicaid program.

"We need your help, even if we are buying prescription drugs for 1/5th of what they are paying at Medicare, we need your help in getting us out of the brand business." Schweitzer commented

Representatives say they aren't pushing Teva's products specifically, but instead recommending using generic drugs instead of name brands.

"We will work with you at no cost to the state. We will help you implement some of those programs," stated Teva Pharmaceuticals director Jerry Moore.

Teva claims if Montana increased the use of generic drugs to 80%, it could have saved the state an $4.5 million dollars in 2009. They are suggesting that Montana officials look at all the drugs that Medicaid patients are using and make sure generics are being used when available.

"It saves money. It is money that they need for childhood care, for education, for whatever the public purpose may be. That is one of the things we are trying to do is reach out to the governors and their policy-makers and take an objective look at this," explained Philip Smith with Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Schweitzer asked the MT Department of Health & Human Services to work with Teva to ensure Medicaid patients in Montana are using the less-costly drugs.