Drug Pricing Transparency
Last March, I quoted the new Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Alex Azar, as saying, “Change is possible, change is necessary, and change is coming.” I hope so. Change is desperately needed. It remains to be seen if the federal government can make the changes needed and make them fast enough. The biggest barrier […]
Big Pharma and Politics
At a rally in Kentucky, President Donald Trump said drug prices were “outrageous”. The next day, according to Kaiser Health News, the pharmaceutical industry donated more money to political campaigns than any other day this year. On March 21, eight pharma political action committees made 137 contributions to 77 politicians totaling nearly $280,000. Both Republicans and […]
High Cost of Drugs – Pills
Last week, I reported the cost of one once of eyedrops I needed would be $1,425. I compared the price to an outstanding cabernet such as Opus One 2012, which costs $289.99. The price comes out to $11.43 per ounce. The eye drops are 125 times more expensive than the $290 bottle of fine wine. […]
High Cost of Drugs – Eye Drops
There are a number of stories here and in Health Attitude about the high cost of drugs. Most stories are about pills, but the problem exists for ear drops, eye drops, injectables, ointments, gels, creams, and other forms. I have cataract surgery coming up and eye drops were prescribed for me. (btw, we all have cataracts. […]
Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs
Every single day, 10,000 people turn 65 and sign up for Medicare. The number of Americans covered by Medicare is expected to double to 80 million over the next twenty years. If we continue to spend nearly $10,000 per Medicare enrollee, the bill in twenty years will be $8 trillion. Needless to say, that is unaffordable. […]
