Drug Prices

Unchecked drug price increases hit both patients and hospitals hard. Since 2008, brand name drugs prices have increased 127 percent compared with an 11 percent rise in consumer prices. These increases cut deep into both hospital budgets and services and undermine patient and community health,…
A recent proposal that calls for reducing the benefits of the 340B Drug Pricing Program to curb rapidly rising prescription drug costs is “misguided,” writes AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels in an AHASTAT blog post today.
The rapidly rising costs of prescription drugs is causing significant financial challenges for patients and their care providers. Many groups, including the AHA, are evaluating options for addressing this important issue. However, one recent proposal, which is seriously misguided, would reduce a…
Today’s New York Times provides arguments from drug companies justifying the excessive jump in pharmaceutical prices in recent years, saying the higher prices won’t impact patients. 
A Senate committee this week put the spotlight on the wave of increases in the cost of medications. While those truly innovative medicines that save lives and ease suffering are certainly valued by all, the committee’s hearing focused on some of the more troubling of the pharmaceutical industry’s…
More than 20 years ago, Congress created the 340B Drug Pricing Program to allow eligible hospitals and health systems to stretch limited resources and expand access to care for vulnerable patients. But despite a proven track record of increasing patient access to vital medical services and…