The issue of skyrocketing drug prices has been a persistent problem for years, and unfortunately, it shows no signs of slowing down as we wrap up the remainder of 2024. Despite promises of reform and public outcry, the cost of prescription medications continues to climb year after year.
Going into 2025, patients are still grappling with the financial burden imposed by the pharmaceutical industry. While some incremental changes have been made, the overarching issue remains. The average cost of prescription drugs has far outpaced inflation, making it increasingly difficult for individuals and families to afford the medications they need.
One of the most concerning aspects of this is the impact on patients, like you and all the fellow AMAC members. Rising drug costs have forced so many to make difficult choices, like skipping or stretching doses and medications, forgoing other necessities, or even delaying treatments here and there. This not only affects their physical health but also their mental well-being.
Pharmaceutical companies continue to defend their pricing strategies, citing research and development costs as the reason. However, many might argue that the development costs are often inflated, and that profits are being prioritized over patient care. The lack of transparency in drug pricing makes the problem worse. It’s difficult for consumers to understand why certain medications are so expensive.
We often see government intervention being proposed as a solution to this growing problem, but we all know progress is slow. Efforts to negotiate drug prices on even the most commonly prescribed drugs, cap insulin costs, and increase transparency have faced some hurdles. The pharmaceutical industry has power that often overlooks the needs of patients.
Ultimately, finding a sustainable solution to the drug price problem will require a collaborative effort involving policymakers, pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy groups. Until then, patients will continue to bear the brunt of the financial burden, with potentially devastating consequences for their health and well-being.
The stark reality is highlighted in a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund, which found that drug prices in the United States are, on average, three times higher than in other high-income countries. This staggering disparity underscores the urgent need for comprehensive drug pricing reform.
However, there is hope. Prescription Discount Programs often provide some relief while others provide a lot of benefits to patients. We recently partnered with ScriptSaver Plus that offers tangible relief to patients struggling with the cost of medications. ScriptSaver Plus provides AMAC members with exclusive discounts and even offering 800+ of the most commonly prescribed ones, like Statin, FREE. These initiatives, fully supported by AMAC, show that it is possible to significantly impact drug affordability. With helpful benefits such as pharmacy coaching and convenient delivery, ScriptSaver Plus empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare costs and prioritize their well-being.
While systemic changes are essential, programs like ScriptSaver Plus offer immediate and practical solutions to the drug price crisis.
Why did Biden/Harris cancel Trump’s “most favored nation” status for prescription drugs? Fixing prices on select medications will only drive the cost of other medications. Trump’s EO was all encompassing.
This Script Saver program sounds like it is an encouraging solution to the high cost of prescription medications. The matter of people not being able to afford medicine they need — this should be regarded as a Public Health crisis . Public Health Law sets the rules for public health policies and practices ,so there should be some sort of attention given to this financial problem by the Public Health and Public Health Law communities as there is a direct connection between. people being put in a health risk category and the idea that they are therefore more prone to illness that would contribute to conditions that public health is supposed to be protecting against. Epidemiology considers causes for conditions that contribute to the spread of disease — those conditions could be any form of hazard to good health — biological, chemical, industrial, motor vehicle transportation ,etc. so the affordability of prescription medications should be included when the cause of a public health threat is being examined.
You want to know why our US drug prices are so high? Because the rest of the world drug prices are so low. They’ve got to make up the difference somewhere. Think about it
Not only are prescriptions costing more money, but the insurance companies are also rationing our health care benefits. My friend just turned 81 and this is the second time she was told that she would have to pay the full cost of seeing a doctor! So, she was told if she didn’t want to pay that, she would have to wait 2-3 months to see the doctor! What an outrage!
The most viable path to lowering the cost of of medications is to put a spotlight on any additional restrictions on means & methods of pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, and make sure that any new FDA protocols are actually necessary.
I ran projects in pharmaceutical plants for many years, and I saw some “FDA-induced” projects that made absolutely no difference in the safety or cleanliness of anything… yet, were costly enough to make your eyes water. Pharmaceutical research and manufacturing facilities cost an obscene amount of money to build, staff, and operate, and they do a phenomenally good job of providing medications that allow people to heal outside of hospitals, while enjoying their lives and the time they spend with family and friends.
Only the most corrupt politicians would villify these research and manufacturing professionals for the great work and long hours they put in to produce life-saving medications. I am sick and tired of hearing accusations to the contrary. Most drug manufacturers who moved their assets abroad in the 90’s and after, would NOT have done so if the FDA had not become political actors who would “find fault” in a process just to suck up to their management and create publicity for their agency. Politicians are everywhere these days, but we should have no tolerance for grandstanding regulators.