If you wonder why it is so hard to control the prices of prescription drugs it is because there are few allies in this fight. I explain in this thread why no one seems to help...
Physicians are often unaware of prices of drugs. For many drugs (Part B), they can make more money choosing the more expensive drug. Key Opinion Leaders don’t want to antagonize Pharma. Taken together, not many physicians are out there publicly protesting high drug prices.
PBMs are supposed to negotiate for the lowest price. But with the rebate game, their business model depends on a % of the list price. So naturally a high list price brings in more money and profit. So they are not out there protesting.
Patient organizations receive large proportions of their budgets from Pharma. They don’t want to do anything to upset that. So they are largely silent or support Pharma friendly measures, eg., lower out of pocket costs which unfortunately drives up the prices more.
Professional physician organizations get a huge amount of revenue from Pharma companies. They too have been silent or advocate mainly Pharma friendly policies and oppose reforms like abolishing ASP plus 6%.
Insurance companies seem to care about predictability than absolute costs; their profit margins are somewhat capped and so they too are on the sidelines.
Patients are being silenced by co-pay assistance programs that minimize the financial burden. But these are band aids that result in further increase in prices. Moreover, patients are already suffering from their illness, and we cannot burden them to take on another struggle.
Politicians are being funded heavily by Pharma. The lobbying power of Pharma is second to none. Enough said.
So. We have a situation where there are very few voices who are out there trying to take on the challenge of trying to bring sanity to prescription drug pricing and to lower prescription drug costs. @JInterlandi @DavidP4AD @peterbachmd @aholdenj @ASlavitt @JohnArnoldFndtn
I’m glad organizations like @AARP and @P4AD_ have taken on this challenge. @policydeb @AARPpolicy
Also glad that many journalists are highlighting the problem with powerful articles.
Also glad that many journalists are highlighting the problem with powerful articles.
