Forget EpiPen — Insurers Say Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Hurt Most In Terms Of Cost
In an attempt to drive down the prices for anti-inflammatory medications, Express Scripts, the nation’s largest drug benefits manager, changed its recommendations to insurers and employers, saying they should cover fewer drugs for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
The New York Times:
A Push To Lower Drug Prices That Hit Insurers And Employers The Hardest
Americans have expressed outrage at drug companies for raising prices on products like EpiPen, the severe allergy treatment needed by thousands of children, and Daraprim, a rarely used but essential drug to treat a parasitic infection. But insurers and employers — who pay the bulk of the cost for drugs — say that a bigger financial shock has come from a largely overlooked source: expensive anti-inflammatory medications like Humira and Enbrel, drugs taken by millions of people for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. In recent years, the prices of the medications have doubled, making them the costliest drug class in the country by some calculations. (Thomas, 9/8)
California Healthline:
Behind The EpiPen Monopoly: Lobbying, Flailing Competition And Tragedy
Thirteen year-old Natalie Giorgi probably didn’t know the name of the company that makes EpiPen. The 2013 death of the Sacramento girl from a peanut-induced allergy attack inspired passage of the California law that made the Mylan product a staple at every school. It was Giorgi’s story, not industry lobbying, that then-California State Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R-San Dimas, said inspired him to write a law requiring public schools in the state to stock the injectors. He said he was also influenced by one of his staffers who had a child with life-threatening allergies. “It was just sort of organic,” said Huff about the bill. “It seemed like we oughta do better to protect these kids. (Bartolone, 9/8)
Stat:
5 Reasons Why No One Has Built A Better EpiPen
Competitors have tried to make runs at EpiPen. And more are trying now that there’s such a spotlight on the product. But it’s unclear if anything can displace the familiar auto-injector with the bright orange cap. (Keshavan, 9/9)
In other drug pricing news —
Bloomberg:
Clinton’s Drug Proposals ‘Very Negative,’ Pfizer CEO Says
The head of Pfizer Inc., America’s biggest drugmaker, said that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s proposals to contain the price of pharmaceuticals would be “very negative” for the industry and are a step toward single-payer health care. Pfizer CEO Ian Read criticized Clinton’s plan, which she released earlier this month, at an investor conference hosted by Wells Fargo in Boston. Clinton’s prescription drug policy would give the government a broad role in overseeing drug prices, including a board to monitor sharp cost increases, and would specifically target price hikes on older medicines. (Hopkins, 9/8)
The Baltimore Sun:
Advocacy Group Pushes Transparency In Drug Pricing
A coalition of Maryland health care advocates want to require drug companies to explain why medications cost so much and to empower the state's attorney general to investigate pharmaceutical companies for allegations of price gouging. The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative announced Thursday they will seek legislation next year that would force drug companies to reveal how they set prices for generic and specialty medications. This year, 10 other states have considered similar legislation. Only Vermont adopted it. (Cox, 9/8)
California Healthline:
Consumer Group Questions Role Of Drug Costs In California Premium Hikes
Rising drug costs are often blamed for driving up health insurance premiums, but a major consumer group says the numbers don’t add up — at least in California. The advocacy group Consumers Union says two large Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers in the state may be exploiting the outrage over high drug prices to artificially inflate their premiums for individual coverage under the Affordable Care Act. (Terhune, 9/9)
In case you missed it: Check out our weekly feature, Prescription Drug Watch, which includes coverage and perspectives of the issue.