By Paul Demko May 21, 2014 The steep cost of Sovaldi—Gilead Sciences’ $1,000-per-pill treatment for hepatitis C—is prompting wide-ranging discussions about the cost of drugs and whether the government should take more steps to regulate the cost of potentially life-saving treatments. “The Sovaldi example has brought us to a crossroads,” said Karen Ignagni, president […]
By Jeff Overly May 21, 2014 Executives representing drugmakers, employers and health insurers sparred Wednesday at a high-profile forum on soaring prescription drug prices, clashing over the need for higher-deductible plans, government cost controls and streamlined approvals at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The event, dubbed Future of Medicine and held in Washington, […]
By Anthony Brino May 21, 2014 The breakthrough hepatitis drug Sovaldi has sparked a vigorous debate about the financial sustainability of U.S. healthcare and the role of government in regulating prices. “The Sovaldi example has brought us to a crossroads,” said Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, during a conference […]
By Brett Norman May 21, 2014 The astronomical price of a new “miracle” drug for hepatitis C has insurers and others who ultimately foot health care bills agreeing that drug costs are out of control and must come down. But there’s little consensus on how to make that happen. Executives from insurers, pharmacy benefit managers […]
By Joe and Teresa Graedon May 20, 2014 Cancer has become a cash cow for drug companies. Over the past decade, the cost of lifesaving medications has soared to an average of $10,000 a month. Although pharmaceutical manufacturers maintain that such costs are needed to cover research and development, insurance companies, patients and doctors […]
By Tony Pugh May 20, 2014 The risk pools in these 24 states need these healthy people, who are cheaper to insure, to help offset the cost of sicker, more costly plan members. Without them, these states might experience rate hikes next year that are 10 percent larger than those in other states, said John […]
By George Lauer May 19, 2014 An effective, high-priced drug has governments, health insurers, consumers and ultimately taxpayers between a rock and a hard place. It could be a harbinger of things to come — including more medical breakthroughs and new policies to help pay for them. The success of Sovaldi is good news […]
By Atia Musazay May 14, 2014 A breakthrough drug now on the market could be a potential cure for hepatitis C. But with its costly price tag of $1,000, or $84,000 for a 12-week treatment, the state of Washington is concerned that not everyone who needs the medication will be able to afford it. […]
By Robert Langreth May 7, 2014 The backlash over surging drug prices is starting to take hold. With the average cost of branded cancer drugs doubling over the past decade to about $10,000 per month in the U.S., doctors, insurers and politicians are all moving in different ways to pressure drugmakers on pricing. Cancer doctors are […]
By Andy Miller May 6, 2014 Probably the biggest ethical dilemma now confronting the health care world involves two expensive new drugs to treat hepatitis C. The issue boils down to a tradeoff between efficacy and cost. One drug, Sovaldi, has a 90 percent cure rate for newly infected patients – much better than […]