Drugs

PhRMA Rebate Educational Campaign

In a move to position drug companies as patient advocates against health insurers, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has launched a “Share the Savings” campaign to educate the public about the lack of rebate pass-through for commercially insured patients with high deductibles and coinsurance. The association says that “robust negotiations between biopharmaceutical companies and health plans result in significant rebates and discounts.” However, a recent analysis commissioned by the association found that more than half of commercially insured patients’ out-of-pocket spending for brand medicines is based on the full list price, meaning that the negotiated savings are not passed on by the insurer to its enrollees. The data also show, the association says, cost sharing for nearly 20% of brand prescriptions is based on the list price.

“We need to ensure patients receive more of the benefits of price negotiations between biopharmaceutical companies and payers,” says PhRMA president Stephen Ubl. “It is a problem that more and more Americans are being asked by their insurers to pay cost sharing based on undiscounted list prices, even though insurers may be receiving significant rebates. Providing access to discounted prices at the point-of-sale could dramatically lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs.”

The campaign will use print, radio, digital, and social channel elements throughout this year. Ads and promotion will run on a variety of platforms in Washington, DC, and selected states, PhRMA says.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome