October 27, 2016—Healthcare payers expect claims costs for specialty and biotech drugs to rise by almost 20 percent next year, a leading health benefits consulting firm says. … [Read more...]
Investors Press Drug Companies About Unjustified Price Increases
October 25, 2016—Socially responsible investors want 17 leading U.S. and foreign drug companies to provide "more comprehensive disclosure about the rationale for price increases." … [Read more...]
OMB Reviewing 340B Final Rule Creating Fines for Overcharges
October 24, 2016—The Department of Health and Human Services' final 340B program rule setting standards for calculating ceiling prices and implementing civil monetary penalties for drugmakers that “knowingly” and “intentionally” overcharge covered entities for covered outpatient drugs is a step closer to release. … [Read more...]
Q&A: Henry Waxman on 340B and Skyrocketing Drug Prices
October 19, 2016—The Washington Post ran a profile of former House Energy & Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) last week pegged to his work to protect the 340B drug discount program. He also recently fielded questions from us about 340B and sky-high drug prices. Read on. … [Read more...]
Drug Prices Soar, Hospital Prices Barely Budge
October 14, 2016—Prescription drug prices rose 6.3 percent from August 2015 to August 2016, making them "easily the fastest growing price component" of U.S. healthcare spending, according to independent healthcare think tank Altarum Institute. Hospital-care price growth, meanwhile, held steady for a second year at 0.9 percent. … [Read more...]
Henry Waxman Can Pick His Causes. He Chooses to Fight for 340B.
October 12, 2016—Now that former House Energy & Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman is out of Congress and working as a lobbyist, he only represents clients he believes in. … [Read more...]
Hospitals Are Being Hammered by Rising Inpatient Drug Costs
October 11, 2016—Hospital spending on inpatient drugs is skyrocketing, including on old reliables such as the pain reliever acetaminophen and the antidiuretic vasopressin, a study from two leading hospital associations shows. … [Read more...]