Much has been written about the role Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play in driving up the cost of prescription brand named drugs. However, far less has been written about how PBMs current business practices lead U.S. consumers, employers, and the government to pay too much for what should be low-cost drugs. Now a new paper, […]
drugs
Town Hall: H.R.3 Creates A False Choice Between Drug Supply and Price
In exchange for some short-term price reduction, H.R.3 threatens access to medicine, innovation, research, and drug shortages, which can negatively impact the U.S. healthcare system. Reforming Pharmacy Benefit Managers, for example, rather than establishing price controls or allowing medications to be imported from Canada, is essential for lowering drug prices in a system that currently lacks […]
The Economic Standard: Rx Importation Poses a Threat to Consumers, Not a Solution
According to the GoodRx Research Team, 832 brand drugs have increased by an average of 4.5% since December 31, 2020. Americans pay around $1,200 for prescription drugs a year. The continuing rise of prescription drug prices has a significant impact on many Americans, especially during a global pandemic. In the latest PawnGuru poll, about 20% of respondents say they […]
Coalition Letter Opposing Price Controls on Medical Innovation
Today, dozens of think tank organizations sent a letter to Congress in opposition to H.R. 3 — proposed legislation that would impose price controls on medical drugs and American innovation. The letter is available online.
ACI Files Comments to the US Customs and Border Protection: Uphold STOP Act Provisions
Re: Mandatory Advance Electronic Information for International Mail Shipments Interim Final Rule; Docket No. USCBP-2021-0009 CBP Dec. 21-04 To the attention of Secretary Mayorkas: The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research (ACI) would like to take the opportunity to address the Mandatory Advance Electronic Information for International Mail Shipments interim final rule (IFR) issued […]
House Bill Could Prevent Patients from Accessing Lifesaving Medications
In late April, Democratic representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ06) re-introduced the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (LDCNA) to the House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would lower prices for medications by placing price controls on prescription drugs sold in the United States. Americans spent an average of $1,200 for prescriptions in 2020, which the bill’s […]
To Tackle High Drug Prices, Tear Down the Rebate Wall
In a period of deep political polarization, politicians on both sides of the aisle agree that Americans are paying too much for pharmaceutical drugs. During the 2020 presidential election, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump made lowering drug prices a central pillar of their respective campaigns, suggesting in the next four years there could be […]
BLOCKING Act Would Delay Patient Access to Cheaper Prescription Drugs
The Following is a statement from Krisztina Pusok, Director of Policy and Research at ACI: “ACI strongly supports Congressional efforts seeking to lower prescription drug prices for patients, consumers, and taxpayers. Unfortunately, the “Bringing Low-cost Options and Competition while Keeping Incentives for New Generics (BLOCKING) Act,” would achieve the exact opposite of what it is […]
Coalition Letter Calls for the Use of Lower-Cost Biosimilars
Today, ACI signed a coalition letter calling on the U.S. Congress to encourage the use of lower-priced biosimilar medicines, which would save lives and reduce healthcare costs. The letter was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate leadership, and it is available here online.
Letter to the President: Don’t Restrict the Supply Chain for Drugs or Medical Devices
Today, a group of 68 nonprofits and associations sent a letter to the President cautioning him against any executive actions that may restrict access to or destabilize the supply chain for pharmaceuticals or medical devices. At this time, while supply chains for a broad range of U.S. industries are stressed due to the global COVID-19 […]