Sharing Negotiated Discounts Could Save Patients Money

Providing access to discounted medicine prices at the point of sale (i.e., at the pharmacy directly) could save certain commercially insured patients with high deductibles and coinsurance anywhere between $145 to more than $800 annually, according to a new analysis from Milliman that was commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The data also show sharing negotiated rebates with patients would have a minimal impact on premiums because it would only increase health plan costs on average 1 percent or less. “Shifting costs to the sickest patients by requiring higher rates of cost-sharing undermines the very purpose of insurance,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of PhRMA, who cited recent Kaiser Family Foundation data showing patients’ out-of-pocket spending is growing faster than underlying medical costs. “This analysis demonstrates that sharing negotiated rebates with patients can lower their out-of-pocket costs with a minimal impact on premiums.” Negotiations between biopharmaceutical companies and health plans often result in significant rebates. According to a recent study from the Berkeley Research Group, more than one third of the list price for brand medicines is rebated back to payers and the supply chain. These rebates totaled more than $100 billion in 2015 and are growing every year. A little known (and not frequently mentioned) fact is that for patients with high deductibles or coinsurance, their out-of-pocke...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs