Washington, D.C. — Today, The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research (ACI), a non-profit consumer education and research organization, released a white paper, “How International Reference Pricing for Prescription Drugs Would Hurt American Consumers.” Recently, some lawmakers and other federal officials have promoted international reference pricing as a way to reduce drug costs for […]
Inside Sources: Direct Primary Care Is Gaining Momentum, but Reforms Are Needed
Not long ago, the personalized, simplified perks of DPC (or, as it was then known, “concierge medicine”) were a luxury of the wealthy. Thanks to the free market, DPC is growing into a mainstream option for millions of Americans dissatisfied with the bureaucratic leviathan that is modern health care. If Americans are to improve their […]
Hill’s Congress Blog: Gene therapies — The Cost to Cure is Worth It
Gene therapies are starting to come to the market, but at very high prices. However, comparing these high priced cures to the long term costs for the chronic treatment of some illnesses, it becomes clear is that gene therapies could actually save our health care system precious dollars, and in many cases will do so […]
The Hill: Consumers agree that Greater transparency among PBMs is needed
In every sector of the economy, transparent pricing ensures the survival of the most efficient firms and results in lower prices as firms compete for market share. There’s no reason to think the PBM industry is an exception. To read this op-ed, visit The Hill.
ACI Coaltion Letter Sent To FDA
A coalition of nonprofit think tanks sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Sharpless urging reforms to current regulatory regulations that are impeding market competition between drug makers. The letter states that increasing market competition is the best means for price reductions, which will lower medical program costs, taxpayer burdens, and out-of-pocket expenses for consumers, as […]
Will That Be A Transplant Or Stem Cell Today?
Advances in genetic research are occurring rapidly and that work paves the way for genetic therapies from local clinics across the U.S. In some instances, patients face a choice for repairing a damaged organ through transplant surgery or through stem cell therapy. Surgery may remain the best choice for patients who arrive in a hospital’s […]
Fifty Groups Sign in Opposition to Price Regulation Proposal
Today, groups representing consumers and taxpayers sent a letter to Congress in opposition to using foreign reference pricing to set drug prices in the U.S. The letter can be viewed here.
Morning Consult: We Need New Ways to Finance Life Saving Gene Therapies
For the millions of Americans who suffer from genetic disorders and previously faced a lifetime of expensive and imperfect treatments, new cutting-edge gene therapies hold exceptional promise. However, our current health system is poorly equipped to make these lifesaving treatments broadly accessible to patients; that needs to change. Gene therapies, which were approved in the […]
Coalition Letter on Gene Replacement Therapy
Cell and gene therapies have the potential to save lives and can offset significant direct and indirect costs to our healthcare system, thus saving taxpayers money in the long run, according to this broad coalition letter.
Maryland Consumers Should Demand Transparency from PBMs
Consumers in Maryland are facing rapidly rising prices at the pharmacy counter, but drug makers’ prices have roughly kept pace with inflation over the last few years. What gives? It turns out that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), a very small number of largely unregulated companies that administer the drug plans of more than 230 million […]
