drug costs

Criticism of prescription drug middlemen has intensified recently in the wake of a federal agency’s actions and legislative reform attempts.

Every year, Medicare officials encourage beneficiaries to shop around for their drug coverage. Few take the time. This year, it might be more important than ever.

The Big Three pharmacy benefit managers say they return nearly all the rebates they get from drugmakers to the employers and insurers who hire them. But most employers seem to doubt that.

The school district is self-insured, meaning it foots the bill for the health care costs of employees. As many as 3,500 employees may be affected by insulin price increases over the past 20 years.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris want to take on the pharmaceutical companies. The vice president is seen as more aggressive on the issue, but the former president's allies say it would be a top priority.

President Joe Biden is campaigning on his efforts to cut drug costs for Medicare patients. But independent pharmacists say one strategy makes it unaffordable for them to keep some brand-name medicines in stock.

Independent pharmacists say they're losing money on many prescriptions they fill. “It’s just a lot of different elements in the system all at once," says a pharmacy assistant professor at FAMU.

A study by the Rand Corp., a nonpartisan research organization, found that, across all drugs, U.S. prices were 2.78 times higher than the prices in 33 OECD countries. The gap was even larger for brand-name drugs.

Drugmakers offer copay assistance programs to patients, but insurers are tapping into those funds, not counting the amounts toward patient deductibles. That leads to unexpected charges. But the practice is under growing scrutiny.

The presidential election is likely to turn on the simple question of whether Americans want Donald Trump back in the White House. But health care tops the list of household financial worries for adults from both parties.