State leaders propose solutions to rising prescription drug costs
The National Academy for State Health Policy today issued 11 to help states rein in rising prescription drug costs. Developed by a panel of state leaders, the policy options include: increasing price transparency; creating a public utility model to oversee drug prices; bulk purchasing critical public health drugs; using state consumer protection laws to prohibit unfair trade practices; reimporting drugs from Canada; pursuing waivers and legislation to promote purchasing flexibility in Medicaid; enabling states to operate as pharmacy benefit managers; linking prices to return on investment; participating in Medicare Part D through Employer Group Waiver Plans; protecting consumers from misleading coupon programs; and using shareholder activism to influence drug company actions. At the NASHP annual conference today in Pittsburgh, Executive Director Trish Riley said the proposals “serve as a toolbox” for states to explore and discuss. Inpatient hospital drug costs increased more than 38% per admission between 2013 and 2015, according to a released last week by the AHA and Federation of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿s.