As drug prices rise, the number of complaints against
pharmaceutical companies increase as well. Pressure is being placed on
pharmaceutical companies by leading
physicians to lower the prices on lifesaving drugs.
Doctors From All Around the Country Put the Heat on Pharmaceutical Companies.
At least 118 oncologists from top
hospitals around the country are calling for grassroots solutions to the high costs of cancer treatment. These include Mayo Clinic, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and City of Hope Medical Foundation, among others. The
doctors argue that up to 20 percent of cancer patients don’t follow their recommended treatment plan because they can’t afford drugs they need. The oncologists say this financial burden put the sickest Americans at risk as they are fighting for their lives.
The
doctors have drafted a “prescription” for reducing the high cost of cancer drugs and voiced support for a patient-based grassroots movement demanding action. The
doctors’ commentary summarized in the journal
Mayo Clinic Proceedings on July 23, 2015.
To read Mayo Clinic’s news release,
click here.
The Situation is Also Being Raised in State Legislatures.
So-called
pharmaceutical cost transparency bills have been introduced in at least six state legislatures in the last year. They aim to make drug companies justify their high prices, which are often attributed by the companies to high research and development costs.
One bill, which was introduced in the New York State Senate in May 2015, states: “If a prescription drug demands an outrageous price tag, the public, insurers and federal, state and local governments should have access to the information that supposedly justifies the cost.”
Our Opinion.
It is clear that
pharmaceutical companies charge excessively high prices in the U.S. Citizens of the U.S. routinely travel to Mexico and Canada to obtain the same medications at a fraction of the cost they (or their insurers) would pay here. Even large
health insurers are often able to negotiate greatly reduced prices on medications for which they pay when compared to a cash-paying uninsured patient.
Something must change. State legislatures and Congress should pass legislation to eliminate the “whatever the market will wear” attitude to drug pricing in the U.S.
Comments?
What do you think of these oncologists’ action plan? Do you think it’ll be successful? Would you join the grassroots movement for this cause? Please leave any
thoughtful comments below.
Source:
Culp-Ressler, Tara. “Drug Prices Soar, Prompting Calls for Justification.” (July 23, 2015).
The New York Times. From:
http://nyti.ms/1HKDSPI
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in
Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The
Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area.
www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The
Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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