Drug Pricing
Commentary
Read latest about problems with PBMs
Decoupling PBM Fees Enhances Patient Outcomes
The three largest PBMs—Caremark (CVS Health/Aetna AET 0.0%), Express Scripts ESRX 0.0% (Cigna CI +0.7%), and OptumRx (UnitedHealth Group UNH +0.2%)—control 80% of the market and are integrated into large health insurance conglomerates. PBMs negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of insurers and manage their drug formularies. Read ...
Commentary
Read about problems with drug price controls
Inflation Reduction Act kills incentives for medical innovation
The Biden administration recently announced the first 10 drugs that will be subject to price controls under Medicare as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The president celebrated the occasion, saying, “We took on Big Pharma and special interests, overcoming opposition from every Republican in Congress, and the American people ...
Commentary
Read about the importance of drug price transparency
Transparency Is The Cure For What Ails American Health Care
A government shutdown has been averted—for now. Congress approved a continuing resolution this weekend that funds the government through mid-November. But the weeks-long fight put other important legislative work on hold. Take the “Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.” Late last month, lawmakers pulled it from the floor ahead of an ...
Commentary
Read about problems with drug price controls
Let’s Hope Drug Companies Win Price Controls War
The IRA gives federal officials the authority to dictate what Medicare pays for certain medicines — a scheme intended to reduce the government’s drug bill. Late last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the first 10 drugs subject to the law’s price controls, which include the blood thinners ...
Commentary
Read about problems of PBMs
Congress Waking Up to PBMs Drug Cost Manipulations
PBMs work for (or increasingly are part of) insurance companies. They decide which drugs patients can access and negotiate rebates to drugs’ list prices. The term “rebates” sounds like these discounts should benefit patients, but PBMs and insurers pocket these savings while basing patients’ costs on the higher undiscounted prices. ...
Commentary
Drug price controls hurt patients
Costly Imported Medicines Leave Patients Vulnerable
Texas just became the latest state to look north for lower drug prices. As of the beginning of this month, the state’s Health and Human Services Commission gained authority to contract with Canadian wholesalers and suppliers to import prescription drugs from our northern neighbor. The prices of brand-name prescription drugs ...
Commentary
Read latest about problems with PBMs
Pharmacy benefit manager reform must remain a priority for Congress
Congress has returned to Capitol Hill from summer recess. Lawmakers in both chambers have a full slate of policy priorities to attend to — not least among them funding the government and averting a shutdown before the Sept. 30 deadline. Several healthcare items will also remain near the top of ...
Commentary
Government Regulation Threatens Life-Saving Innovation
Drug Companies Are Delivering a “Golden Age of Medicine.” Let’s Protect It.
New vaccines for scourges like malaria and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. New cancer drugs that can cut death rates by half or even cause complete remission. The discovery of a biomarker that could identify people who would benefit from investigational drugs for Parkinson’s Disease. Breakthrough treatments that curb obesity ...
Commentary
Learn how price controls threaten access to drugs
Despite Democrats’ Celebratory Mood, It’s A Sad Day For American Patients.
President Joe Biden celebrated a milestone today—but American patients have no reason to cheer. The White House announced the first 10 prescription drugs that, starting in 2026, will be subject to price controls authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act . . . It’s laudable that lawmakers want to reduce out-of-pocket ...
Commentary
Read latest on government price controls
Medicaid Drug Price Transparency Rule Is More Sinister Than It Seems
The Biden administration claims to support price transparency in healthcare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has formally warned hundreds of hospitals to comply with federal rules requiring them to post their prices publicly. And the agency just rolled out a new rule designed to “advance prescription drug transparency ...
Read latest about problems with PBMs
Decoupling PBM Fees Enhances Patient Outcomes
The three largest PBMs—Caremark (CVS Health/Aetna AET 0.0%), Express Scripts ESRX 0.0% (Cigna CI +0.7%), and OptumRx (UnitedHealth Group UNH +0.2%)—control 80% of the market and are integrated into large health insurance conglomerates. PBMs negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of insurers and manage their drug formularies. Read ...
Read about problems with drug price controls
Inflation Reduction Act kills incentives for medical innovation
The Biden administration recently announced the first 10 drugs that will be subject to price controls under Medicare as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The president celebrated the occasion, saying, “We took on Big Pharma and special interests, overcoming opposition from every Republican in Congress, and the American people ...
Read about the importance of drug price transparency
Transparency Is The Cure For What Ails American Health Care
A government shutdown has been averted—for now. Congress approved a continuing resolution this weekend that funds the government through mid-November. But the weeks-long fight put other important legislative work on hold. Take the “Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.” Late last month, lawmakers pulled it from the floor ahead of an ...
Read about problems with drug price controls
Let’s Hope Drug Companies Win Price Controls War
The IRA gives federal officials the authority to dictate what Medicare pays for certain medicines — a scheme intended to reduce the government’s drug bill. Late last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the first 10 drugs subject to the law’s price controls, which include the blood thinners ...
Read about problems of PBMs
Congress Waking Up to PBMs Drug Cost Manipulations
PBMs work for (or increasingly are part of) insurance companies. They decide which drugs patients can access and negotiate rebates to drugs’ list prices. The term “rebates” sounds like these discounts should benefit patients, but PBMs and insurers pocket these savings while basing patients’ costs on the higher undiscounted prices. ...
Drug price controls hurt patients
Costly Imported Medicines Leave Patients Vulnerable
Texas just became the latest state to look north for lower drug prices. As of the beginning of this month, the state’s Health and Human Services Commission gained authority to contract with Canadian wholesalers and suppliers to import prescription drugs from our northern neighbor. The prices of brand-name prescription drugs ...
Read latest about problems with PBMs
Pharmacy benefit manager reform must remain a priority for Congress
Congress has returned to Capitol Hill from summer recess. Lawmakers in both chambers have a full slate of policy priorities to attend to — not least among them funding the government and averting a shutdown before the Sept. 30 deadline. Several healthcare items will also remain near the top of ...
Government Regulation Threatens Life-Saving Innovation
Drug Companies Are Delivering a “Golden Age of Medicine.” Let’s Protect It.
New vaccines for scourges like malaria and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. New cancer drugs that can cut death rates by half or even cause complete remission. The discovery of a biomarker that could identify people who would benefit from investigational drugs for Parkinson’s Disease. Breakthrough treatments that curb obesity ...
Learn how price controls threaten access to drugs
Despite Democrats’ Celebratory Mood, It’s A Sad Day For American Patients.
President Joe Biden celebrated a milestone today—but American patients have no reason to cheer. The White House announced the first 10 prescription drugs that, starting in 2026, will be subject to price controls authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act . . . It’s laudable that lawmakers want to reduce out-of-pocket ...
Read latest on government price controls
Medicaid Drug Price Transparency Rule Is More Sinister Than It Seems
The Biden administration claims to support price transparency in healthcare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has formally warned hundreds of hospitals to comply with federal rules requiring them to post their prices publicly. And the agency just rolled out a new rule designed to “advance prescription drug transparency ...
