House Democrats Criticize Recent Increases In Brand-Name Drug Prices
The Wall Street Journal: "Reports of prescription drug-price increases have congressional Democrats complaining about price gouging and questioning whether drug companies are reneging on a pledge to provide billions of savings as part of a U.S. health-care overhaul sought by President Barack Obama. Prescription drugs account for about 10% of U.S. health-care spending and prices appear to be increasing rapidly, Rep. Frank Pallone, (D., N.J.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's health subcommittee, said at a hearing Tuesday." Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the full committee's chair, called attention to an AARP study which indicated that people were paying 9% more for brand-name drugs even though consumer price inflation has fallen in the past year. Waxman also noted estimated that the increase "boost drug company revenues by $20 billion this year, undercutting the industry's promise to provide $80 billion of savings over 10 years as part of a broader U.S. health care overhaul." But "critics questioned the AARP study: 'AARP's claims are based on cherry-picked statistics, looking only at select branded medicines rather than the entire prescription-drug market,' the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, said in a statement" (Burns, 12/8).Reuters: "Pharmaceutical companies defended themselves on Tuesday against complaints of rising medicine prices that could re-establish the drug industry as a political target in the U.S. health reform debate. An early deal with Democrats had largely shielded the $315 billion industry, but recent reports from Wall Street and consumer groups that drug prices have risen nearly 10 percent this year brought the companies under a harsh spotlight. ... At the same time, the industry braced for a bipartisan push in the Senate to allow the importation of cheaper medicines from Canada and other countries as part of the larger health reform legislation."
"Some market analysts have forecast higher U.S. drug sales as companies seek to squeeze earnings from dozens of widely used medications before they hit the so-called "patent cliff" and face cheaper rivals. ... Democrats and consumer groups charge the pharmaceutical industry is profiteering ahead of anticipated reforms that could reduce industry profits through larger government rebates from the drugmakers, as well as other concessions" (Heavey, 12/8). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.