Affordable prescription drugs are essential to ensuring that Americans can live long and healthy lives. Unfortunately, rising drug costs are ensuring that many people cannot afford their medications. And health insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and drug companies are increasingly restricting access to drugs that doctors are recommending for their patients, with terrible consequences for patient health. In a recent oped, Dr. Kenneth Thorpe criticizes this

Large mergers are usually harmful for consumers and competition. Instead of lower prices and increased innovation, consumers get higher prices, less access to goods and services, and reduced innovation and research. Mergers in the pharmaceutical industry are no exception. Last month, Katy Milani of the Roosevelt Institute wrote about drug company mergers and how (despite company claims) they stifle research and development instead of promoting it. In late June, the drug compa

Anticompetitive behavior by brand name companies and generic drug companies is one reason why prescription drug prices are so high. These abuses have become increasingly prevalent over the past few years; fortunately members of Congress recognize this problem and are working on possible solutions. One worthy bill is the Expanding Access to Low-Cost Generics Act, introduced by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). It has not yet been formally introduced, but it will be after the August r

Over the past several decades pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have acquired substantial power and influence in our health care system, to the point that they often make decisions that affect prescription drug costs and patient access to these drugs. One unfortunate trend in recent years is when PBMs deny patients access to medicines, even if those patients fulfill the requirements and are covered by insurance. In a new article, the Fresno Bee looks at a patient who is being

A great deal of prescription drug research and development is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal programs, and this support has lead to amazing new medicines. But too often, patients do not benefit from these drugs because drug companies charge very high prices, even though the drugs were developed because of the federal government. A new bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rick Scott (R-FL) would require drug c