JustCare

Tag: Prescription drugs

  • Congress leaves insured Americans at the mercy of Pharma and out-of-control drug costs

    Congress leaves insured Americans at the mercy of Pharma and out-of-control drug costs

    Let’s face it, HMOs and PPOs are playing a game of bait and switch, keeping monthly premium increases down while raising their members’ out-of-pocket costs. Avalere reports that specialty drug costs are no exception with more than four out of ten state health exchange “silver” plans and more than half of the “bronze” plans requiring members to pay at least 30 percent of their cost in 2015. For many people with life-threatening illnesses who rely on these expensive drugs, this jeopardizes treatment. (And, costs for critical generic drugs also can be prohibitive.)

    The health plans are culpable mainly because they would rather shift costs to their members than admit they are powerless to contain prices. Consequently, they won’t join forces with their members and call upon Congress to ensure drug prices are reasonable. They won’t risk getting on the wrong side of lawmakers who are beholden to the drug industry. They do this knowing full well how important drugs can be for people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and myriad other complex conditions—and that high coinsurance could be a death sentence for those who can’t afford it.

    It is a gross injustice for Congress to allow health plans to leave people with serious and disabling conditions at the mercy of out-of-control drug costs rather than rein in prices, as every other industrialized nation does. People need to be able to budget for their care up-front. Their premiums should be seen as ample contribution to the cost. Insured people should not be forced to go without critical medications.

    Of course, when you follow the money and the lobbyists, as the Center for Responsive Politics and Pro Publica have done, you see very quickly why Congress supports what’s best for the pharmaceutical industry, not ordinary Americans.

  • Why are drug prices in the US twice as much as in Holland and Great Britain?

    Why are drug prices in the US twice as much as in Holland and Great Britain?

    Why are drug prices in the US twice as much as in Holland and more than twice as much as the Brits? Dean Baker at the Center for Economic and Policy Research explains here that the only reason we pay so much more for our prescription drugs than people in every other wealthy nation is because the US Congress allows the pharmaceutical industry to charge whatever they want for their drugs.  No other government allows the drug companies to set the prices for their drugs.

    Americans could save more than $300 billion if we paid the same amount for our drugs as Canadians, who pay about 72 percent of what we pay.  And, if the price of our drugs were the same as the Danes, we could save around $725 billion.

    So if you’re looking to save money on your next trip abroad, consider filling some prescriptions!

  • Effectiveness of antibiotics at serious risk thanks to overuse in animals

    Effectiveness of antibiotics at serious risk thanks to overuse in animals

    Antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective at treating people, and doctors are seeing a significant number of their patients die as a consequence, according to a new report from Consumers Union and U.S. PIRG.

    In a survey of 500 doctors, 425 reported that one or more of their patients had been presumed or diagnosed infected with a multi-drug resistant bacterial infection in the last year.  They said that more than one in three of these patients had either died or suffered serious health complications.

    According to the CDC, about 23,000 Americans die each year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  The high frequency of antibiotic use in food-producing healthy animals is a large part of the cause. About 80 percent of the antibiotics used in the United States are for livestock to promote growth.  Only about 20 percent are used on people.

  • Some generic drug prices rising at a staggering pace

    Some generic drug prices rising at a staggering pace

    A recent investigation shows generic drug prices rising at a staggering pace. The drug industry has significant responsibility for the high-cost of many generic drugs. Neither the insurance companies nor other middlemen have the leverage to rein in prices adequately. Here are just two examples:

    In October 2013, the average cost for one Albuterol Sulfate pill, which treats asthma and lung conditions, was .11 cents.  Six months later, in April 2014, the average cost per pill was $4.34, almost 40 times more.

    In October 2013, the average cost for one Doxycycline Hyclate pill, which treats bacterial infections, was .04 cents. The average charge in April 2014 was $3.70 a pill.

    The data come from the Healthcare Supply Chain Association and represent the amounts that group purchasing organizations pay for these drugs.  Congress needs to step in and ensure that everyone in America pays a fair price for prescription drugs, as every other wealthy nation has done. For now, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Elijah Cummings have introduced legislation that would rein in the prices Medicaid pays for generic drugs.

    For a detailed study on the high cost of generic drugs, read this article from the New England Journal of Medicine.

  • The cost of cancer drugs: It could bankrupt you

    The cost of cancer drugs: It could bankrupt you

    If you want to understand the power of the pharmaceutical industry to gouge Americans and, in particular, to force Americans with cancer into bankruptcy, you should watch this 60 Minutes piece that aired on October 5, 2014.
  • Medicare prescription drug costs falling

    Medicare prescription drug costs falling

    Medicare prescription drug costs are falling. Drug spending has dropped significantly, largely because of a loss of patent protection for several commonly used high-cost drugs and fewer than projected brand-name drugs being introduced into the market.
    A new report from the Congressional Budget Office further explains that far fewer people have enrolled in Part D than originally projected.  As a result, Medicare drug spending in 2013 was $50 billion, about half of what the CBO projected in 2003.In 2013, there were 39 million enrollees in the Part D drug program, 12 percent fewer than projected ten years before.

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    For CMS data on Medicare drug spending in 2013, click here.

  • People with Medicare are paying less for their drugs

    People with Medicare are paying less for their drugs

    People with Medicare are paying less for their drugs. The US Department of Health and Human Services just reported $11.5 billion dollars in prescription drug savings for 8.2 million older adults and people with disabilities since 2010.  Sylvia Burwell, HHS Secretary, credits the Affordable Care Act for these savings. People with Medicare are saving more and more on their prescription drugs since passage of the ACA.  The average savings is $1407 as a result of drug discounts for people without coverage in the Part D prescription drug “donut hole” and drug rebates.  For a state by state breakdown of savings, click here.
    Overall, drug savings are up $4.5 billion since last year.  Drug savings will continue to grow over the next six years until the donut hole closes in 2020.