Author's posts
Judge Reed O’Connor’s Ruling On Obamacare’s Requirement To Cover Preventive Care Reveals An Implicitly Pro-Death Stance
On Sept. 7th, Judge Reed O’Connor voided a mandate under the ACA which requires employers cover certain preventive healthcare products and services if these violate their religious beliefs. Here, O’Connor reveals an implicitly pro-death stance, coupled…
Massachusetts Legislation To Curb Use Of Step Therapy – A Health Insurers’ Drug Cost Containment Tool- Fails To Move Forward
This summer, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed legislation aimed at curbing the use of step therapy. Yet the House and Senate couldn’t agree on an item in the bill. Despite failing to go through, patient advocates are still hopeful a bill can g…
What Will Happen To Coverage Of Covid-19 Tests, Vaccines, And Treatments Once The Government Is No Longer The Predominant Purchaser?
The federal government will stop being the predominant purchaser of Covid-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests at some point this fall. White House Covid-19 Response Team coordinator Dr Ashish Jha said his “hope is that in 2023 you’re going to see commer…
If Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Ends, Millions Of Americans Could Lose Healthcare Coverage
The Biden Administration may allow the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency to expire October 13th. This portends the loss of healthcare coverage for potentially millions of people.
What “Negotiating” With Medicare Means For Drug Makers: A Mixture Of Price Controls And Actual Negotiations
The bill imposes a number of controls, such as minimum discounts off of non-federal AMP, as well as a framework for how to define “fair” prices and how the negotiating process will determine prices based on factors such as R&D costs, unmet need, therap…
Implications Of Monkeypox Being Declared A Public Health Emergency In U.S.
It is hoped that the declaration of a public health emergency in the U.S. will soon ramp up testing and treatment of monkeypox, but also public health messaging on prevention of spread of the disease, particularly in vulnerable communities.
U.S. Prescription Drug Pricing Doesn’t Favor The Patient: Case Of Sub-Optimal Market For Cancer Pharmaceuticals
It’s no surprise people say the healthcare system’s pricing is “rigged.” The drug supply chain is riddled with sub-optimal market features, none of which favor the patient. The blame for high drug prices and out-of-pocket spending goes beyond drug make…
U.S. Prescription Drug Market Lacks Certain Competitive Features: Case Of Biosimilars
A regularly heard talking point is that follow-on drugs, such as biosimilars and generics, will bring down prices through competition. But, they don’t invariably do so. PBMs may favor more expensive branded products over similar or even bioequivalent v…
Critics Decry Drug Pricing Provisions In Inflation Reduction Act, Say They Will Stifle Innovation
Imposing rebates on list prices of drugs that exceed inflation, restructuring Medicare Part D (particularly the catastrophic phase of the outpatient drug benefit), and Medicare negotiations for certain drugs, will have a limited impact on the drug indu…
FDA May Approve First OTC Birth Control Pill In U.S.: More Novel Prescription-To-OTC Switches Could Be On Tap
FDA may soon approve the first OTC birth control pill in the U.S. And, more novel prescription-to-OTC switches could be on tap. But, the FDA’s proposed plan to facilitate more switches in new therapeutic categories lacks clarity, and it doesn’t include…
