Articles tagged with Drug Costs
A post hoc analysis of a cluster randomized clinical trial found that the Real-time Prescription Benefit Tool (RTPB) increased fill rates for high-cost medications, especially among patients from low-income communities. However, the tool's recommendations were only made for a small proportion of orders, limiting the study's applicability.
Drug spending has become increasingly focused on highly novel drugs in the last decade, driven by increased prescribing of innovative medicines. The shift is attributed to changes in market forces and government policies that better reward pharmaceutical innovation.
A new pan-European study identified the psychological and contextual factors that shape decision-making among healthcare professionals. The findings provide important insights into how behaviour change frameworks could support the uptake of new treatments, with the strongest lever being to shift intention to prescribe.
A new study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology predicts that generic semaglutide will dramatically increase cost-effectiveness and health system affordability for patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiorenal risk. The estimated annual cost of providing GLP-1RAs to all indicated patients would be $3.35 to $5.31 billion at pre-g...
Between 2018 and 2024, insurance denials for brand-name prescriptions increased by 67%, with nearly half not being filled within 90 days. The study highlights the trade-offs between controlling spending and ensuring timely treatment access.
A recent study found that frequent formulary rejections of single-source branded drugs in the US lead to delayed or absent treatment, highlighting trade-offs between cost and access to medicines. The study highlights the need for more affordable medication options, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.
A new study found that prophylactic naldemedine is a cost-effective intervention for opioid-induced constipation in cancer patients. The analysis revealed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 1,445,276 Japanese yen per QALY gained, which is below the official willingness-to-pay threshold of 5 million yen.
After Medicare expanded coverage for Wegovy to prevent heart complications in obese patients with heart disease, prescription fills jumped sharply. However, a significant fraction of eligible beneficiaries still did not receive the treatment.
Researchers have created an affordable and highly effective mosquito repellent distilled from locally grown catnip plants, comparable to DEET-based products. The nepetalactone-based lotion has been shown to repel mosquitoes responsible for malaria transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A cross-sectional study found significant increases in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) per-patient days supplied in employer plans from 2021 to 2024, driven by higher growth in weight loss coverage. This could signal a growing financial burden on patients and payers as drug costs increase over time.
A recent study found that medication use increased after implementation of Medicare annual out-of-pocket cost caps, particularly among the highest-cost medications. This policy change substantially improved patient access to these high-cost medications for Medicare-insured patients.
The Medicare $35 insulin out-of-pocket cap implemented in 2023 decreased and stabilized insulin out-of-pocket cost, increasing insulin use. This finding can inform policies to boost insulin access among users with high out-of-pocket cost.
A new digital platform has lowered the cost of GLP-1 medications, making them more accessible to patients without insurance. However, sustaining treatment remains a challenge due to the cash-pay model's lack of financial protection for indefinite treatment.
A study by Radboud University Medical Center found that 75% of patients with stable psoriasis can safely reduce their biologic medication dosage by half, achieving similar symptom control. This reduction in dosage leads to fewer injections and saves up to €8,500 per patient per year.
A scoping review compared biosimilar regulatory guidelines across all WHO regions, identifying barriers to data transferability that may affect medication pricing, access, and reimbursement. The study aims to improve biosimilars' global accessibility.
The study found that out-of-pocket spending on prescription contraception dropped by 83% within two years of universal coverage, with the largest financial gains for people in their 20s. The policy also led to increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives and reduced unintended pregnancy rates.
Patients with employer-sponsored insurance may benefit from using direct-to-consumer pharmacies for high-cost generics, with savings ranging from 80% to nearly 100%. This strategy is particularly recommended for disease areas with high cost sharing, such as oncology and psychiatry.
The summit brought together endocrine leaders to identify opportunities to work closely together on increasing the visibility of endocrine health in policy decisions. Early findings from a workforce survey revealed challenges including long patient waiting times and retention concerns among early-career clinicians.
A study found that a prenatal and infant cash transfer program significantly reduced investigated allegations of maltreatment among infants. The program provided economic stability, which prevented child welfare system involvement.
A cohort study found that ultraexpensive drugs in Medicare Part D have limited international availability, highlighting their fiscal significance. Internationally unavailable products often result in higher spending per beneficiary.
A $35 monthly insulin out-of-pocket cap is associated with significantly lower insulin costs, increased access to insulin, and decreased blood glucose levels among Medicare beneficiaries. This finding suggests that federal cost-sharing policies could improve access to essential medications in diabetes.
Coupon programs shifted towards higher-cost drugs, offering larger incentives to offset increasing patient cost-sharing requirements. Manufacturer-sponsored coupons saw a significant decline between 2017 and 2024, while per-claim coupon amounts rose accordingly.
A lower semaglutide price could generate savings that offset the cost of treating an additional 550,000 to 3.6 million Medicare beneficiaries eligible for expanded obesity-indication coverage. This voluntary price agreement may lead to substantial savings for Medicare spending on semaglutide treatment.
A study found that Medicare beneficiaries with heart disease reported less cost-related medication non-adherence after new provisions limited out-of-pocket drug costs. This decrease was particularly notable among low-income seniors, who saw a significant reduction in skipped or delayed doses.
The Alliance trial explores the combination of zanubrutinib and sonrotoclax for CLL treatment, aiming to send cancer into remission and allow patients to stop treatment earlier. The study has the potential to be life-changing for patients and their families, reducing the burden of ongoing therapy and improving quality of life.
A new study warns that reduced international funding for tuberculosis services could lead to significant economic hardship for 40 million households globally, with the poorest households bearing the greatest burden. The study estimates that complete elimination of external funding for TB could cost families up to $80 billion annually.
A new study published in Health Economics finds that universal free prescription drug coverage reduced average out-of-pocket medication spending by 23% and catastrophic drug expenses by 62%. However, the policy also led to unintended behavioral responses, such as increased spending on unhealthy goods.
A new study led by Brown University researchers challenges the assumption that US access to new medicines is driven by faster government review. The study found that companies submit lower-value drugs earlier in the US than in other high-income countries, giving Americans earlier access to expensive medications with limited medical ben...
The ISSCR is hosting a summit on access and affordability in cell and gene therapies to explore pricing, manufacturing, regulation, and reimbursement strategies. Experts will examine key barriers and emerging solutions across the access landscape.
A randomized controlled trial found that contingent discount financial incentives on medication expenses can improve glycemic control and encourage engagement with ongoing monitoring among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. After six months, the intervention group showed greater improvements in long-term blood sugar level...
A new USC white paper reveals that PBMs' reported profit margins are influenced by accounting practices, making it challenging for policymakers to understand the true cost drivers. The researchers suggest requiring financial transparency from PBMs to develop a better picture of their operations and costs.
A US study of over a million Medicaid enrollees reveals major gaps in access to medication-based addiction treatments, particularly for Black patients. Methadone and buprenorphine show significant overdose risk reductions, highlighting the need for policy reforms to ensure timely access.
The article highlights the mismatch between psychedelics and economic drug development principles. Pharmaceutical companies are developing short-acting compounds and neuroplastogens to engineer trips out of the experience altogether. Dr. Sandy Hager's research suggests investors should remain cautious due to weak intellectual property ...
A new study shows that direct-to-consumer pharmacy pricing can offer lower total costs (431% lower) compared to commercial pharmacies for insured patients. Out-of-pocket neurologic drug costs are 75% higher, but most medications cost less than $635 per year.
The 340B program has grown into the nation's second-largest drug purchasing program, with significant revenue generated from spread pricing, which disproportionately benefits providers with more commercially insured patients. Eliminating this distorted incentive is essential to ensuring safety-net providers receive benefits.
Prior authorization for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) became near universal, leading to substantial out-of-pocket costs. Out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1RAs rose significantly from 2020 to 2025, affecting many high-cost drugs.
Researchers at the University of Maine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute have discovered a sustainable method to produce (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone, a crucial building block in pharmaceuticals. This approach could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and production costs by up to 60%.
A cross-sectional analysis of 549 essential medicines in 72 markets reveals significant variation in prices and affordability. The study emphasizes the urgent need to promote equitable drug prices and improve access to life-saving medications.
A cross-sectional study found that white populations use more prescription drugs than Asian or Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations. After adjusting for age and disease prevalence, Black populations have lower prescription fill rates compared to the overall population average.
A large study found that Medicare beneficiaries with multiple sclerosis who received broader coverage of MS treatments had significantly lower risk of developing new or worsening symptoms. Researchers warn that formulary exclusions for specialty drugs could lead to worse health outcomes.
A new study by the University of Birmingham found that Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a significant impact on the UK economy, with average annual costs exceeding £14,781 per person. The total economic burden is estimated to be around £40 billion, which is expected to rise further due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new study found that B.C.'s universal, no-cost coverage policy led to a significant increase in the use of long-acting reversible contraception among reproductive-aged women. The study tracked nearly 860,000 women and discovered that cost was a major barrier to accessing effective birth control methods like IUDs and implants.
A new analysis finds that delinking PBM compensation from list prices could lower US annual drug spending by nearly $100 billion. Shifting to a transparent payment model would reduce costs without undermining pharmaceutical innovation, according to USC Schaeffer Center Director Geoffrey Joyce.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that opioid consumption intensity varies enormously across different populations and contexts. The study suggests that tracking average intensities of use could improve our understanding of consumption patterns and inform drug policy and treatment strategies.
A new study found that almost all Medicaid managed care plans (MCPs) cover at least one form of naloxone, with 94% covering generic injectables or 4-mg nasal sprays. However, certain restrictions and quantity limits may prevent people from accessing this life-saving drug.
A new gene therapy delivery device called NANOSPRESSO could revolutionize how hospitals treat rare diseases by allowing them to create personalized nanomedicines in-house. This democratized approach to precision medicine could boost access to low-cost bespoke gene and RNA therapies, especially in low-resource settings.
Most Medicare beneficiaries will likely see their drug costs go up due to Part D plans' shifting cost-sharing burden. The new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket limit won't reach most beneficiaries, leading to higher deductibles and coinsurance for many.
Prevalence of current cannabis use rose significantly among adults aged 65+, particularly those with higher incomes. Adults with initial lower cannabis use rates now exhibit the highest prevalence by 2023.
LyoWave, a company commercializing microwave heating technologies developed at Purdue University, has received a $304k NSF SBIR grant to scale its tech for pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing. The project aims to increase manufacturing throughput and reduce costs.
A research team from the University of Copenhagen has developed a biotechnological method to produce Taxol, a widely used cancer drug. The new method involves cloning taxol-producing genes and inserting them into yeast cells, making it more cost-effective and sustainable than traditional chemical synthesis.
A recent study found that more beneficiaries were affected by insurer exits in the Part D marketplace under the IRA, which increased plan sponsor financial liability. The redesigned Part D marketplaces may lead to limited coverage options and less competitiveness.
Retail pharmacies excluded from Medicare Part D networks faced a higher risk of closure over the past decade, with independent and minority-owned pharmacies more likely to be affected. The study found that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) were contributing to this problem by steering beneficiaries away from non-preferred pharmacies.
A new voluntary program, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), could greatly reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients taking expensive oral cancer drugs. By spreading annual costs across 12 monthly payments, patients can avoid large upfront payments and make treatment more affordable.
Imperial scientists launched a miniature laboratory into Earth orbit to engineer microbes that can produce food, pharmaceuticals, fuel, and bioplastics in microgravity. This partnership aims to create environmentally friendly and affordable non-animal foods, reducing the cost of space travel.
A new study found that both oral and injectable forms of naltrexone are effective in reducing heavy drinking among hospitalized patients. The medication was administered before discharge, resulting in a significant decrease in heavy drinking within the last 30 days of the three-month follow-up period.
A study of over 300,000 adults found that those with diabetes are 25% more likely to lose their health insurance. Insurance instability is particularly concerning for those with complex needs, as many struggle to regain coverage after losing Medicaid or private insurance.
A new study found that both employed people with obesity and employer representatives acknowledge the impact of obesity on future health problems and perceive lifestyle change alongside anti-obesity medications as the most effective approach for maintaining weight-loss reduction. Cost of medication coverage remains a significant barrie...
A University of Ottawa-led team examines the punishing costs of TB care, finding that patients face 'catastrophic' expenses despite free treatment being available in many countries. The review identifies areas for intervention to reduce patient costs and improve sustainable TB mitigation strategies.
The Endocrine Society strongly disagrees with the administration's decision not to finalize a rule allowing Medicare and Medicaid to cover anti-obesity medications. This decision leaves millions of Americans with obesity without access to evidence-based treatment, exacerbating the country's growing obesity epidemic.
A new paper highlights emerging alternatives to traditional diabetes medicines, such as continuous glucose monitors and lifestyle interventions like GEM, which can improve patient adherence and long-term health outcomes.