Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Cuban's Rx Service Shows How Much Middlemen Mark Up Prices
Buffalonews.Com: Mark Cuban Shows How The Free Market Helps Patients
Mark Cuban deserves credit for creating a business model that not only saves consumers money on their medicine but shows the extent to which middlemen have been ripping off patients. For years now, Congress has debated how to rein in the predatory practices of pharmacy benefit managers, with proposed bills that would require greater transparency. But the private sector is now leading the way. Cuban's company could serve as a model and first step for fixing the price-inflated status quo. (Sally Pipes, 3/6)
Business Insider: How To Use Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company To Order Scripts
Mark Cuban launched an online prescription medication service earlier this year to help patients save money on drugs. I used the service to order my scripts, and found the process simple and relatively quick. I did not save enough on my medications to justify using the service again, but I still recommend it. (Allana Akhtar, 3/5)
The Highland County Press: Lowering The Costs Of Prescription Drugs
The cost of prescription drugs is too high in this country. We know Ohioans are concerned about the cost of living right now, and some of the worst inflation we see, year after year, is drug prices. And often, the culprit is price gouging by big pharmaceutical corporations. It’s why I introduced the Affordable Medications Act. It would penalize drug companies that increase the price of their drugs without justification, and it would finally allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for American seniors. (Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, 3/8)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Healthcare Legislation Would Increase Drug Costs
Healthcare costs have long been a top concern for voters across the political spectrum. Legislators in several states, including Georgia with House Bill 867, are attempting to lower prescription drug prices by regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). But this bill will not achieve this objective, because inserting government control into healthcare has shown to do more damage than good, and limiting the ability of PBMs to negotiate lower prices for patients is an ineffective strategy to lower costs. (Christina Herrin, 3/7)
