Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
High Court Justices Wrestle With Issues In Patent Case Backed By Drug Makers
STAT: Supreme Court Skeptical In Case Backed By Drug Makers
At the Supreme Court on Monday, there were signs that the pharmaceutical industry could end up on the losing side of a case with serious implications for medicine and drug prices. The case in question focused on the Obama administration’s rules for a new process to review patents. Drug makers, supporting the plaintiffs, are urging the court to change that process, which right now makes it easier to invalidate the patents that are crucial to their business. (Scott, 4/25)
Politico Pro: Supreme Court Grapples With Patent Reviews
The Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with the wonky issue of patent reviews in a case that has drawn heavy interest from the pharmaceutical and technology industries as they battle over reforming the nation's patent laws. (Tummarello, 4/25)
Marketplace: Turns Out Hedge Funds Have An Incentive To Control Drug Prices
The court heard oral arguments in a case involving patents, including drug patents. It used to be that to challenge one, you'd have to actually go to court. That was a slow, expensive business, so Congress created a fast track: a patent review board. ... Big Pharma doesn't like the review board. But organizations that want to bring down the price of prescription drugs for consumers love it, and they're being joined in their fight by people who aren't usually seen as champions of consumer rights — hedge fund managers. (Gorenstein, 4/25)
In other news from the Supreme Court —
Kaiser Health News: High Court Ruling May Hinder Plans’ Efforts To Recoup Consumers’ Legal Awards
Accidents happen, and if they’re someone else’s fault, you can go to court to try to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you win, though, the pot of gold you receive may be considerably smaller than you expect: Your health plan may claim some or all of it as reimbursement for money it spent on your medical care. It’s completely legal and it happens all the time. But a recent Supreme Court decision gives consumers ammunition to push back. (Andrews, 4/26)
