U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time | Arthritis Information
U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade: Report
For the first time in a decade, prescription drug use in the United States fell last year, even as total spending on drugs increased as prices for brand-name products rose sharply, the Associated Press reported.
Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits managing company that handles drug benefits for some 60 million people, said the overall number of prescriptions was down. The reasons: fewer new drugs hit the market last year, some big-selling drugs such as Zyrtec -- an allergy medication -- became available without a prescription, and other drugs faced decreased use because of safety issues. The combination of those factors was responsible for the downturn in prescriptions, Medco said, the AP reported.
Total prescription drug spending grew 3.3 percent last year, Medco said, chiefly because of greater use of "specialty" drugs treating chronic or complex illnesses. Diabetes drugs, specialty treatments for cancer, as well as drugs for rheumatological disease, seizure disorders and antiviral drugs also increased. Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.
Medco projected that prescriptions would rise no more than 1 percent in 2009 and in 2010, the AP reported, but added that higher prices would boost total spending by 3 percent to 5 percent this year and 4 percent to 6 percent next year.
Very interesting read. I would have thought the decrease was due to poor economy, if I was guessing. This I would have also guessed;
Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.
I'm surprised that the leading reason for a decrease is "people can't afford" their Rxs and aren't taking them. Unemployment is high and the GAP policy is expensive and people are opting out. If it comes down to RXs and food, then people will use their money for food. The statistics might even be worse for 2009. LindyI was thinking the same thing LinB. Alot of people can not afford to throw a bag of cookies in with the food. People are barely making it.
Drug Makers Try to Ease Recession's Pain[quote]By PETER LOFTUS
Drug makers are expanding programs to help people afford medicines, amid a prolonged recession and efforts in Washington to overhaul the U.S. health-care system.
Pfizer Inc. said Thursday that it would provide more than 70 of its drugs for free to Americans who have lost their jobs since the beginning of the year and don't have health insurance. Several other companies including Merck & Co., Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc. and Wyeth, have expanded patient-assistance programs in recent weeks.
Pharmaceutical companies say helping people get access to medicines is the right thing to do. But there are other factors at play, too, industry watchers say. The programs could improve the industry's standing in debates over various health-reform proposals—measures that could put pressure on drug prices. And the programs also can help companies sustain or boost market share by keeping patients on their drugs who will eventually regain insurance.[/quote]
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