Trump administration will make drug companies post prices in commercials

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

How about getting rejecting drug TV ads altogether as nations with common sense do?

The US and New Zealand allow Pharma to advertise to end consumers. The cost of this marketing is baked in the price of brand name medications.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by Frank DeForrest

Good. The solution to high prices is less govt, not more.

How is requiring people be informed about things fit into what you said?

Do you also oppose Trumps effort to allow sale of health insurance across state lines?

I wonder if this judge is part of the "resistance" in a coordinated effort to block anything Trumps wants to do, to deny him any more accomplishments before 2020?

Still waiting to hear how the Obama appointed judge rationalized keeping Trump for changing legal teams to address the census question. That seems a bridge too far for the judiciary to try and interfere with the executive.

`

[Mistermobile]

Originally Posted by Mistermobile

Anyone know why a federal judge blocked the new drug rule? I read the Washington Post article mentioned above and there was no reason that I could see for the decision.
But I did see this:
"Drug companies have argued that list prices do not reflect what most patients pay for prescription medicines because they do not account for the discounts negotiated by insurers. [SCAM]." from the Washington Post
This is a scam the drug companies, healthcare insurers, and pharmacies collude in to legally fleece the "patients." Drug companies already advertise the prices of their drugs. But, as the above quote says, the healthcare insurers (say AETNA) receive a discount when AETNA buys the drug from the drug company. That means the healthcare insurer pays less for that drug then the drug company's list and advertised price.
Right now, the federal judge has blocked you from knowing the discounted price to AETNA.
AETNA may and probably doesn't pass the cost savings received by it from the drug company to you. That's why your co-pay can and does go up. Your pharmacy (say RITE AID) is taking a third bite of the apple by charging you the drug price which is Aetna's discounted cost plus its profit, and Rite Aid's cost plus it profit. OUCH!

DRUG PRICES


Each middleman reseller, say UPMC, cuts its own deal with the drug producer. So depending what health insurer you decide to go with, the price to the you varies.



What I didn't say is there are super drug stores, say Sam's Pharmacy, that also acts as a middleman, at least as drugs are concerned. Big volume. So I can buy drugs from UPMC or Sam's Pharmacy.



A Real Life Experience

Today I refilled a prescription at Sam's Pharmacy and was told my co-pay was $28 because that co-pay was set by my healthcare insurer, UPMC. "No" I said. I want the drug based on the Sam's Pharmacy formulary co-pay which is $10.00, and since I am also a member of Sam's Pharmacy, I saved $18.00.

[Mistermobile]

No replies? or, Attaboy? or, You go get them!


Here is the Gee Whiz moment apparently no one has been waiting for.


Sam Pharmacy lists in dollars what I will pay. I knew ahead of time that for my drug, my co-pay was $10.00. For that, I also pay Sams $100.00 each year and of course shop there. MY cost savings for just that one drug is $216.00 per year over what my UPMC healthcare insurer charges me.



Every health insurer (i.e. your health plan), I know, doesn't tell you what the drug costs you will be pay. (your co-pay) until you get to the pharmacy register. Remember you are already paying monthly for membership in your plan.