A value benchmark approach for newly launched drugs in the United States. Dr. Patti Peeples of HealthEconomics.Com recently interviewed Dr. Steve Pearson and Dr. Dan Ollendorf of ICER, to explore the goals behind (ETAP) and the implications for this new benchmark approach to drug pricing. See more […]
Medicare – Under Attack by Zombies?
Medicare turns 50 this week! America's right-wing politicians continue talking doom and gloom about Medicare's future, but are things really that bad? Find out more here. (Source: Paul Krugman, The New York Times, 7/27/15) […]
Oncology Experts Offer Solutions to Ease Patients Suffering
A group of 118 leading cancer experts are trying to ease the financial suffering of many American cancer patients who facing out-of-reach out-of-pocket costs. With many American's facing yearly out-of-pocket costs of more than half their families annual salary, the group says it is time for a […]
Get Immediate Access to Drug Pricing Information with ProspectoRx
ProspectoRx is a web-based application that provides immediate access to accurate, comprehensive drug pricing information, updated constantly throughout the day. Download the ProspectoRx fact sheet and learn how it can help your organization, here. (Source: Elsevier) […]
Do Oncology Experts Hold the Answers to Outrageous Pricing?
A group of 118 of America's leading cancer experts have drafted a prescription for reducing the high cost of cancer drugs and voiced support for a patient-based grassroots movement demanding action on the issue. See their recommendations here. (Source: Joe Dangor, Mayo Clinic) […]
How Will Pharmaceutical Companies Answer the Call for Price Justification?
With current exorbitant drug prices being continually introduced, pharmaceutical companies are coming under pressure with the introduction of so-called pharmaceutical cost transparency bills. Read more here. (Source: Andrew Pollack, The New York Times, 7/23/15) […]
Seeking Affordable Help With Fertility?
Avella Specialty Pharmacy and Fertility SOURCE Companies recently announce a new partnership to offer patients significant discounts on fertility drugs. Find out more here. (Source: Avella Specialty Pharmacy, 7/21/15) […]
FDA Urged to Weigh Patient Perspective in PDUFA Talks
Pew Charitable Trusts' senior director for health programs, Allan Coukell, noted that many stakeholders have been focused on the potential use of observational data, potentially through electronic health records (EHRs) and claims databases. Paid subscription required to view more, here. (Source: […]
How Does Aetna Support Evidence-Based Medicine?
This video featuring Dr. Henry Wei, Senior Medical Director, makes doctors aware of the latest scientific evidence to support effective patient care. Watch here. (Source: AHIP) […]
CER Collaborative Now Offering Flexible Option to Continuing Education
The Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Collaborative will be offering new flexible options for people interested in its 19-hour continuing education program. More details available here. (Source: National Pharmaceutical Council, 5/13/15) […]
ICER Launches Drug Assessment Program for New FDA-Approved Drugs
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) recently announced an initiative to transform the way new drugs are evaluated and priced in the United States. Learn more here. (Source: ICER) […]
Gilead Pills Found Cost Effective at $1000/Day
A new report by an influential panel of 32 doctors and medical experts has found new Hepatits C drugs to be cost-effective given their benefits. What exactly does "cost-effective" mean and what impact will this have with health insurers? See more here. (Source: Doni Bloomfield, BloombergBusiness, […]
Is 2015 the Tipping Point for Beyond the Pill?
The combination of aggressive pricing pressures for payer access, the rapid pace of wearable technology development, and payers' receptivity to creative solutions for overall cost saving will motivate manufacturers to move beyond the pill in 2015. Read more here. (Source: Richard Prest, Finsights, […]
Specialty Spending Growing Fastest in Exchange Plans
A recent report by Express Scripts has found specialty drug spending growing considerably more in exchange plans compared to commercial health plans. Learn more about why here. (Source: Gina Shaw, Specialty Pharmacy Continuum, 7/15/15) […]
What Does the 21st Century Cures Mean for CROs?
Clinical Trials in the US are looking at a host of new provisions after a recent US House committee bill was passed. What impact will these provisions have on the way contract research organizations (CROs) operate? Find out here. (Source: Zachary Brennan, OutsourcingPharma.com, 6/17/15) […]
US House Passes 21st Century Cures Act
Passed with an overwhelming majority, the House recently passed the 21st Century Cures Act. What will the bill do and how will it be paid for? Learn more here. (Source: Zachary Brennan, OutsourcingPharma.com, 7/10/15) […]
Why Are the Feds Discouraging Prescription Drug Competition
Avalere Health recently conducted a survey to find out how the current regulatory framework dissuades drug makers from developing information that they can't promote or speak about. How can we discuss Value when comparative studies are not being conducted and when they are, they are not allowed to […]
Is the 340B Drug Pricing Program Leading to Increased Hospital Spending?
A recent audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) looks at increased spending in hospitals with Medicare's 340B Drug Pricing Program. Is Medicare's 340B Drug Pricing Program leading to the prescription of more drugs, or more expensive drugs? See more here. (Source: Emily Rappleye, […]
FDA and PatientsLikeMe Team Up to Enhance Post-Market Surveillance
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is teaming up with PatientsLikeMe to explore how patient generated data could help inform regulatory review activities related to risk assessment and risk management. See more here. (Source: Dominic Tyer, PMLiVE, 7/2015) […]
What Will The Novartis Performance Pricing Look Like?
Novartis is getting creative with the pricing of its much-anticipated heart failure remedy, Entresto. A possible performance-based pricing system would come with a discount up front with bonus payments down the line if Entresto does what it is expected to. Learn more here. (Source: FiercePharma, […]
What will Big Pharma Think of the New ASCO Scorecard?
The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently published an oncology drug rating scale, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The scorecard was designed to simplify decision making by listing benefits, side effects and costs. Read more here. (Source: Tracy Staton, FiercePharma, 6/23/15) […]
Take a First Look at 2015 Public Exchange Pharmacy Trends
Express Scripts recently released its third edition of the Express Scripts Exchange Pulse report. How does the first quarter of 2015 compare? See more here. (Source: CNN Money, 7/1/15) […]
How Elastic is America’s Orphan Drug Pricing?
If you are using orphan drug prices as a barometer-of-sorts to measure the broader US pricing climate, then you can rest easy following approval of Vertex's cystic fibrosis treatment Orkambi. Set to be launched with a list price of $259 000 per-patient, per-year, Orkambi is priced at the top end of […]
What do All of These Insurance Mergers Mean for Patients?
The United States has recently become the land of Insurance Mergers. What does all of this mean for patients? See more here. (Source: Reed Abelson, The New York Times, 7/5/15) […]
Aetna to Buy Humana for $37 Billion
The recently announced cash-and-stock deal could make Aetna the nation's second-largest insurer for the price of $37 Billion! Get more details here. (Source: Modern Healthcare, 7/3/15) […]
8 Healthcare Reform Issues Beyond King v Burwell
The recent King v Burwell resolution settled the status of the Affordable Care Act, for the time being anyway, but health reform in the U.S. is much bigger than the ACA. Check out this article for eight overarching healthcare reform issues to follow in the coming weeks and months. See more here. […]
ASCO Introduces a New Tool for Rating Cancer Drugs
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has introduced a standardized method for scoring cancer drugs based on benefit/risk profiles, made available alongside each drug's price, to allow physicians and patients to have a more open discussion about how to proceed with treatment. Subscription […]
This One Year Program Has Reduced Re-admissions by 70%
Catamaran Corp. and Health New England Inc., recently announced results from a one-year Hospital Transition Program, demonstrating the importance of transitional medication therapy management. See the details here. (Source: PR Newswire, 6/25/15) […]
What do You Think About the NHS Plan to Stamp Prices on Prescription Drugs?
In a recent effort to costs, The UK's NHS has decided to have the price labelled on the packaging of every prescribed drugs that cost the NHS more than 20 pounds, along with the words "funded by the UK taxpayer." They are hoping this plan will reduce waste, while at the same time boost adherence. […]
Meet the ISPOR 2015-2016 Board of Directors
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) recently announced the Society's 2015-2016 Board of Directors to take office effective July 1, 2015. See who was elected, here. (Source: ISPOR, 2015) […]
