- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Factors That Influence Drug Pricing
Program moderator Bruce Feinberg, DO, explains that new drugs for the treatment of cancer hold promise in terms of efficacy; however, these medications come at a high financial cost for patients and payers.
Although the initial drug in a new class of medications is associated with a high price when first released, the price tends to come down substantially when a second drug in the same class is introduced, comments Scott Gottlieb, MD. As an example, he highlights how Sovaldi, a drug for the treatment of hepatitis C, was launched at a high price, and how the price of Sovaldi decreased after the introduction of Harvoni. Dr Gottlieb explains that competition resulting from the entry of additional products that ultimately treat the same underlying disease can affect drug pricing.
Current policies do not often allow second- and third-in-class drugs to enter the market as efficiently as first-in-class drugs, remarks Dr Gottlieb. He notes that the regulatory process for first-in-class drugs is much different from the regulatory process for subsequent drugs. Policy changes that allow subsequent drugs a more favorable entry path could help address concerns regarding drug pricing, suggests Dr Gottlieb.
HOPE-CAT Can Identify Maternal Cardiovascular Risk 2 Months Earlier Than Doctors, Study Says
April 25th 2024In a retrospective study, the machine learning tool was able to screen for potential risks of cardiovascular disease nearly 60 days before the patient's medical record showed any signs of a related condition or before they were officially diagnosed or treated for it.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
Listen
Downward Morbidity, Mortality Trends Discovered Among Patients With Ovarian Cancer, Liver Metastases
April 24th 2024This study indicates a declining trend in morbidity and mortality rates among patients with ovarian cancer and liver metastases, highlighting the efficacy of surgery and chemotherapy in improving survival outcomes.
Read More
The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) vote to ban most employers from issuing and enforcing noncompete clauses could have varying impacts on the health care workforce; federal regulators vastly under-enforced antitrust laws in the hospital sector during the last 2 decades, resulting in increased health costs; the FDA recently found genetic evidence of the H5N1 bird flu virus in pasteurized commercially purchased milk.
Read More
