Maryland consumers pay more for prescription drugs than residents of 46 other states - almost $57 per prescription. In Alabama, the average prescription costs $41.25, the nation's lowest rate. Data are from 2001.

State........Average Rx cost......Rank

Alaska.........$59.83....................1

New Jersey...59.18.....................2

New york......58.44.....................3

Maryland......56.92.....................4

Minnesota....55.79.....................5

Florida.........53.94.....................6

Delaware......53.52.....................7

Connecticut...52.93....................8

Wisconsin.....52.07....................9

Massachusetts...51.97...............10

Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2002