Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
AIDS Activists Protest High Drug Prices In Rally Outside UnitedHealthcare HQ
CBS Minnesota: Protesters Demonstrate Against ‘Unethically High’ Drug Prices Outside UnitedHealthcare Corporate Offices
A group of protesters converged Tuesday on the corporate offices of UnitedHealthcare to demonstrate against what they call “unethically high” prescription drug prices. The protesters were from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and they say that people with HIV/AIDS are facing expensive drug prices that are impeding them from seeking care. The demonstrators say that OptumRx, the prescription service under UnitedHealthcare, is throwing unethical charges on specialty independent pharmacies where people with HIV or specific pre-existing conditions seek care. (Mohs, 10/26)
Also —
Dallas Morning News: Mark Cuban’s Drug Company Promises To Lower Costs With Launch Of Benefit Management Business
Mark Cuban’s drug company is diving into the controversial world of pharmacy benefit management with the launch of a new venture tasked with lowering drug prices for its customers. The company, Mark Cuban Cost Plus PBM, will serve as an intermediary that negotiates with drug manufacturers and pharmacies for rebates and discounts on behalf of employers, health insurers and government health programs. While PBMs play a critical role in drug pricing, they’ve faced scrutiny in recent years over a lack of transparency regarding how much they’re making off rebates and how much of the cost savings actually gets passed onto their customers. It’s a narrative Cuban’s new Dallas-based company says it wants to change. (Wolf, 10/26)
In news about medical debt —
AP: Stacey Abrams Group Donates $1.34M To Wipe Out Medical Debts
The political organization led by Democratic titan Stacey Abrams is branching out into paying off medical debts. Fair Fight Action on Wednesday told The Associated Press that it has donated $1.34 million from its political action committee to the nonprofit organization RIP Medical Debt to wipe out debt with a face value of $212 million that is owed by 108,000 people in Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. (Amy, 10/27)
