Ceipal’s Post

Stakeholders on both sides of the political aisle can agree that #Rx drug prices are too high. A recent poll found 82% of Americans find drug costs unreasonable, creating bipartisan concern about rising prices.   Drug industry lobbyists are resisting change and instead targeting #340B, an essential program that aids underserved communities and is funded by drugmaker profits—not taxpayers.   Nearly 30 drugmakers are defying federal policy and unilaterally restricting 340B pricing on drugs dispensed using community and specialty pharmacy partnerships, resulting in cuts to hospital services and programs. This threatens to cause worsened patient health outcomes and higher health care costs for all.   We must #Protect340B. 

Missed It? The Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) recently concluded its first five affordability reviews, deeming three of the five drugs “unaffordable.” Learn what this could mean for patients and the health system in our upcoming webinar: https://lnkd.in/gMusggXb   #ColoradoPDAB #PDAB #StateHealthPolicy #Healthcare #PrescriptionDrugs #Affordability #HealthPolicy #PatientCare 

What's on Congress' health care agenda this year? Download Axios Pro's latest report for analysis on key drug pricing and #healthcare legislation to watch in 2024.

Thanks to Keith Verner for sharing this insightful article on how drug middlemen continue to manipulate the system to their advantage. It underscores the critical need for thorough review and oversight of PBM contracts to prevent such exploitation. In the complex world of healthcare, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play a pivotal role in the distribution and pricing of prescription drugs. However, their position often leads to opaque practices and inflated costs. By conducting exceptional reviews of PBM contracts and eliminating unnecessary middlemen, we can significantly reduce costs for health plans, making healthcare more affordable and transparent. Our approach at BenefitsDNA focuses on ethical consulting and transparency, ensuring that every health plan we manage is free from hidden fees and misaligned incentives. This not only benefits the plan sponsors but also the end consumers who rely on these plans for their health needs. Remember, there is no need for anyone to pay more than they should, let alone 200 times the better price, as the article reveals. By stripping away these unnecessary layers, we pave the way for a more efficient and fair healthcare system. Let's continue to push for transparency and accountability in all our healthcare dealings. Together, we can make a difference. #HealthcareTransparency #PBM #HealthInsurance #BenefitsDNA #WeFixYourHealthcare https://lnkd.in/eG-Fcqqh

Rising drug costs affecting mail-order prescriptions? Stay informed about the latest challenges in healthcare access and affordability. Read more about the impact and potential solutions in this insightful article from The Wall Street Journal #HealthcareCosts #PrescriptionDrugs #HealthEquity https://lnkd.in/gK3UBn5Y

Did you know the primary factor impacting medication adherence is cost? Learn about the impact and our innovative solution in the Magellan Health Insights article, “Prescription Predicament: The Impact of Rising Drug Costs on Medication Adherence:” #magellanhealthcare #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #medicationadherence #prescriptiondrugs

We all know Rx costs are soaring and not coming down anytime soon. And now a new study shows that 92% of employers are concerned about high-cost drugs in the pipeline, with 91% reporting concern about pharmacy cost trends overall. No surprise there, but certainly not good news for our HR and Finance executives that need to manage these rising costs and their employees' expectations. If this describes you, please know that there are multiple ways to take back some control over your pharmacy spend, whether you're a fully insured group or a self-funded organization... https://lnkd.in/gsBfshNv

Shortages of life-saving and life-sustaining generic medicines are too frequently causing severe harm to patients. Reliable supply chain practices, including the use of committed contracting models and a sustained commitment to manufacturing quality investments, are key to preventing future shortages. However, these practices are not currently implemented frequently enough. Check out today's Health Affairs Forefront article in which we propose a Medicare "reliable drug supply payment adjustment" to cover costs of moving to more reliable supply chain practices. We are looking forward to continuing to develop these and other proposals to improve the availability of critical medicines through our Duke-Margolis ReVAMP Drug Supply Chain Consortium! #drugshortages #enddrugshortages #supplychain #reliability #manufacturing #quality

That GLP-1 weight loss medications are a medical breakthrough is clear. Yet, they pose a significant risk of fraud and waste. This concern arises from the potential for these drugs to be overprescribed, misused, or diverted, leading to unnecessary costs for companies without corresponding health benefits for users. Effective monitoring and management strategies are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure that the coverage of these medications aligns with genuine health needs and cost-effectiveness criteria.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General have begun investigations into how #PBM vertical integration has impacted drug costs in Medicare Part D. According to an analysis by 46Brooklyn Research, a nonprofit drug-pricing analytics group, PBM drug prices on a selection of specialty drugs were at least 24 times higher than what manufacturers were charging. Congress must pass meaningful #PBMreforms to protect patients from overspending at the pharmacy counter. #drugpricing #healthcarepolicy https://lnkd.in/dzAv2SfE