Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13385

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Goldman DP, Jena AB, Philipson T, Sun E.
Drug licenses: a new model for pharmaceutical pricing.
Health Aff (Millwood) 2008 Jan-Feb; 27:(1):122-9
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/1/122

Abstract:

High drug prices are a major barrier to patients’ access to drugs and compliance with treatment. Yet low drug prices are often argued to provide inadequate incentives for innovation. We propose a drug-licensing model for health care, which has the promise of increasing drug use without altering patients’ out-of-pocket spending, health plans’ costs, or drug companies’ profits. In such a model, people would purchase annual drug licenses that would guarantee unfettered access to a clinically optimal number of prescriptions over the course of a year. Using the example of statins, we illustrate how such a model could be implemented.

Keywords:
Publication Types: Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH Terms: Drug Industry/legislation & jurisprudence Health Services Accessibility/economics Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence* Humans Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/economics Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/supply & distribution Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services Licensure/legislation & jurisprudence* Models, Economic* Prescription Fees/legislation & jurisprudence* United States Substances: Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors