Making Medicines Affordable

Making Medicines Affordable PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309468086
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
Thanks to remarkable advances in modern health care attributable to science, engineering, and medicine, it is now possible to cure or manage illnesses that were long deemed untreatable. At the same time, however, the United States is facing the vexing challenge of a seemingly uncontrolled rise in the cost of health care. Total medical expenditures are rapidly approaching 20 percent of the gross domestic product and are crowding out other priorities of national importance. The use of increasingly expensive prescription drugs is a significant part of this problem, making the cost of biopharmaceuticals a serious national concern with broad political implications. Especially with the highly visible and very large price increases for prescription drugs that have occurred in recent years, finding a way to make prescription medicinesâ€"and health care at largeâ€"more affordable for everyone has become a socioeconomic imperative. Affordability is a complex function of factors, including not just the prices of the drugs themselves, but also the details of an individual's insurance coverage and the number of medical conditions that an individual or family confronts. Therefore, any solution to the affordability issue will require considering all of these factors together. The current high and increasing costs of prescription drugsâ€"coupled with the broader trends in overall health care costsâ€"is unsustainable to society as a whole. Making Medicines Affordable examines patient access to affordable and effective therapies, with emphasis on drug pricing, inflation in the cost of drugs, and insurance design. This report explores structural and policy factors influencing drug pricing, drug access programs, the emerging role of comparative effectiveness assessments in payment policies, changing finances of medical practice with regard to drug costs and reimbursement, and measures to prevent drug shortages and foster continued innovation in drug development. It makes recommendations for policy actions that could address drug price trends, improve patient access to affordable and effective treatments, and encourage innovations that address significant needs in health care.

Making Medicines Affordable

Making Medicines Affordable PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309468086
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 235

Get Book Here

Book Description
Thanks to remarkable advances in modern health care attributable to science, engineering, and medicine, it is now possible to cure or manage illnesses that were long deemed untreatable. At the same time, however, the United States is facing the vexing challenge of a seemingly uncontrolled rise in the cost of health care. Total medical expenditures are rapidly approaching 20 percent of the gross domestic product and are crowding out other priorities of national importance. The use of increasingly expensive prescription drugs is a significant part of this problem, making the cost of biopharmaceuticals a serious national concern with broad political implications. Especially with the highly visible and very large price increases for prescription drugs that have occurred in recent years, finding a way to make prescription medicinesâ€"and health care at largeâ€"more affordable for everyone has become a socioeconomic imperative. Affordability is a complex function of factors, including not just the prices of the drugs themselves, but also the details of an individual's insurance coverage and the number of medical conditions that an individual or family confronts. Therefore, any solution to the affordability issue will require considering all of these factors together. The current high and increasing costs of prescription drugsâ€"coupled with the broader trends in overall health care costsâ€"is unsustainable to society as a whole. Making Medicines Affordable examines patient access to affordable and effective therapies, with emphasis on drug pricing, inflation in the cost of drugs, and insurance design. This report explores structural and policy factors influencing drug pricing, drug access programs, the emerging role of comparative effectiveness assessments in payment policies, changing finances of medical practice with regard to drug costs and reimbursement, and measures to prevent drug shortages and foster continued innovation in drug development. It makes recommendations for policy actions that could address drug price trends, improve patient access to affordable and effective treatments, and encourage innovations that address significant needs in health care.

How to Save Thousands on Prescription Medication

How to Save Thousands on Prescription Medication PDF Author: Ira Robinson
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 9781401094027
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 174

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Book Description
Because millions of them cannot afford the prescription drugs they desperately need, seniors and the uninsured poor and disabled are the main focus of this book. This book shows qualified persons the many programs available and how they can obtain free, low-cost, or discounted medications from a variety of these public and private sources. This book is also a "must read" for all patients who require prescription drug therapy whether they are uninsured, under-insured or fully insured to help them maximize the value of the prescription medications they get. This valuable information can be helpful to all of these patients, their doctors and other health-care providers, as well as their other care-givers. Included in this book are numerous tips to help patients save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in prescription drug costs yearly.

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs PDF Author: Cost Containment Research Institute
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780974294100
Category : Drugs
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description
The book gives hard to find information on how and where to get free and low cost prescription drugs. Now includes over one hundred programs and over1,100 drug listings. Find out the top seventeen ways to cut your prescription drug costs, and maybe even get your medication totally free!

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs PDF Author: Cost Containment Research Institute
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Drugs
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description


Prescription Drugs for Half Price or Less

Prescription Drugs for Half Price or Less PDF Author: Stephen Hyde
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0307480909
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
If you want to save up to 50, 70, even 90% on your prescription drug costs, this is the book you need. Stephen S. S. Hyde, founder of Hyde Rx Services Corporation, is the leading authority on low-cost prescription drug benefits, and now he’s offering individual consumers the expertise he provides to America’s employers and health plans. With the simple, cost-saving techniques outlined in this revolutionary book, you can save literally hundreds, even thousands of dollars on your family’s prescription medications. You’ll discover: • The seven questions you should ask your doctor before he writes a prescription • How your pharmacist can save you money • How to get FREE prescription drugs • How to save on generic, over-the-counter, and brand-name drugs • How to get the lowest prices from retail, mail-order, online, and Canadian pharmacies • How you may be eligible for discount cards and other assistance programs • A Special Seniors Medicare Drug Benefit Report, and much more! With an appendix of directories, pharmacies, and websites to get you started, this book will pay for itself with your very first prescription!

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs

Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs PDF Author: Cost Containment Research Institute
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Drugs
Languages : en
Pages : 33

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Book Description


Prescription Connection

Prescription Connection PDF Author: North Dakota. Department of Insurance
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Pharmaceutical services insurance
Languages : en
Pages : 1

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Book Description
Prescription Connection is a program of the North Dakota Insurance Department that connects kids, families and people of all ages with free and discounted prescription drugs.

The Medicare Handbook

The Medicare Handbook PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Health insurance
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description


Prescription Drug Discount Coupons and Patient Assistance Programs Paps

Prescription Drug Discount Coupons and Patient Assistance Programs Paps PDF Author: Congressional Research Service
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781973771463
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers fund a variety of programs to help consumers defray the cost of prescription drugs. Industry assistance includes drug discount coupons, as well as free drugs and cost-sharing payments for individuals with lower incomes or high medical expenses. According to one analysis, drug manufacturers tendered discount coupons for more than 600 brands in 2016. Nonprofit patient assistance programs (PAPs) offered by drug manufacturers and independent charities dispense billions of dollars in assistance annually, placing them among the nation's largest charitable organizations. Drug manufacturers say the generous aid is evidence of their commitment to patients who cannot afford a prescribed course of medication. Many manufacturer programs are designed to reduce consumer cost sharing for high-cost specialty drugs used to treat cancer, hepatitis C, Crohn's disease, and other serious conditions. Industry analysts and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General say that the programs also are used to bolster prescription drug sales and prices and can increase costs for government and commercial health payers. For example, an insured consumer may use a manufacturer coupon to buy a more expensive brand-name drug even if a lower-cost generic is available. Although the coupon reduces the consumer's cost-sharing obligation for the drug, it does not cut the price paid by the consumer's health care plan. Federal statutes, including an anti-kickback law, limit the use of coupons and manufacturer donations in conjunction with federal health care programs, such as the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. The anti-kickback law in Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act prohibits the knowing and willful offer or payment of remuneration to induce a person to buy an item or service that will be reimbursed by a federal health care program. In the private sector, some health plans have barred their enrollees from redeeming coupons for certain drugs or have chosen not to cover certain drugs that qualify for coupon discounts. Other health plans allow or encourage enrollees to redeem coupons for expensive drugs to improve the odds that the enrollees will complete a prescribed course of treatment. This paper provides background on prescription drug coverage and consumer spending and on the role played by coupons and PAPs.

Drugs For Less

Drugs For Less PDF Author: Michael P. Cecil, M.D.
Publisher: Hatherleigh Press
ISBN: 1578261929
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The first easy-to-use reference guide to saving 50% or more on the 250 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Over 40 million Americans lack health insurance. Another 40 million Americans are insured by Medicare and do not have prescription medications as a covered benefit. The 50 million covered by Medicaid are threatened by reduced benefits and limited formulary coverage. Even the 74 million Baby Boomers with health insurance are impacted, as pharmaceutical companies pass their costs on in the form of higher co-pays and insurance premiums. We all are affected by the problem of rising prescription drug costs. Drugs for Less is the answer to the problem. Empowering consumers with needed information, the book outlines seven simple strategies to reduce rising pharmaceutical prices. Here, for example, are tips on how to ensure that drugs you buy online are safe, guidelines on how to slice medications, and information on which generic drugs are more effective than the expensive brand-name versions. Most importantly, the book includes an extensive directory of the 250 most commonly prescribed medications with specific information on how to save money on that drug. Making sense of the convoluted system of pricing drugs and showing you how to beat it, Drugs for Less is the best investment you can make in your health. Visit www.drmichael.com for more information.