Some politicians, it seems, have trouble learning the lessons of history. An effort is underway in the U.S. Senate to create strict government price controls on airlines, a return to the era when federal bureaucrats set airfares, selected domestic routes and regulated flight schedules, which resulted in artificially higher prices, stifled competition, and a massive […]
Some Misbehavior, but Some Inevitable
Most of us have an opinion on drug prices. Indeed, high drug prices were the top health care concern in 2016. The older generic drugs are usually priced in an affordable range, but a more lasting impression is made by a handful of drugs that were repriced by opportunist investors. Who does not recall the […]
Daily Caller: ITC Could Make Smartphones A Lot More Expensive
Qualcomm has asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to halt the importation of some Apple smartphones that use the chips of its competitors. The issue stems from a patent dispute between Qualcomm, a maker of baseband processor chipsets used in many popular electronic devices, and Apple, a manufacturer of these devices. Now, a new report […]
You Can Blame Pharmacy Benefit Managers for Higher Drug Prices — Real Clear Health
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) administer prescription drug plans on behalf of insurers and employers. In the process, they negotiate reimbursement terms with pharmacies and drug prices with drug manufacturers. While plan sponsors face the direct financial costs of the prescription plans being offered to its members or employees, PBMs act as middlemen in the process. […]
Drug Pricing Still Out of Control
To address consumers’ experience with drugs priced at outrageous levels, a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight & Reform was held. Witness Martin Shkreli used a 5th amendment dodge to avoid testifying on his inexcusable role in the pricing of drugs. A few in Congress were sufficiently angered that they urged HHS “to issue […]
Time to Negotiate Drug Prices
The 15 million enrolled in the biggest Medicare part D plans will face average premium hikes of 8% in 2016. The increase in 2014 was 11%. These increases are enough to provoke consumer grumbling about prices, but consumers are not actually overwhelmed by prescription drug costs, yet. Instead, they fear that prescription drugs for a […]
Home Bittersweet Home
For decades housing was a buoyant force in our economy. Lately it has been a dead-weight in the lives of many who are in or who are approaching retirement. Their retirement portfolios are not generating enough income to pay the bills, and because of spotty employment, many are failing to make regular contributions. A generation […]
Gasoline Tax Hike – Widely Unpopular With Consumers
Consumers have been cutting back on gasoline use. Many conserve because it is the right thing to do. More of us agree with that sentiment but have no real economic alternative to gasoline or diesel for the family’s transportation. Electric car and hybrid capital costs remain much higher than conventional car prices and many gas-fueled […]
Eli Lehrer: Consumer Federation of America’s ‘Shocking’ New Study
When one strips away the posturing and insinuations of sinister corporate conspiracies contained in the new report on auto insurance rates from the Consumer Federation of America, you’re left with a pretty simple conclusion: If you shop around for things on the Internet, you can often find a better price than the one you’re first offered.This isn’t a cause […]
Summary Statement: ACI Testifies in North Carolina Regarding Cartel Insurance Pricing
Before the North Carolina Joint Legislative Study Committee on Automobile Insurance Statement of Steve Pociask President of the American Consumer Institute, Center for Citizen Research January 25, 2012 Raleigh, North Carolina Today I will talk about a number of problems with the current regulatory system in North Carolina, including the existence of hidden fees and […]
