rwoodvira

The senator that many of you love to hate recently had a session with major pharmaceutical CEO's:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/108671

The difference in costs between the US and Canada are astounding. From my cancer treatment I have a problem digesting fats - guess what if you cab't absorb fats - you have trouble getting vitamins. To get around this I take a drug called Creon - I recently checked into the US vs Canada for the drug slightly difference in amount 12,000 unit vs 10,00.
US: months supply 30 pills - $121.00.
Canada: 200 pills - $121.00
PS That is drugs from Canada, not India or other 3rd world countries.

My mother-in-law just turned 103. She needs to take Eliquis which is mentioned in the article. It all went back to her because of the deductible
US price: 30 day supply (2 pills per day)- $451.00
Canada: 30 day supply (2 pills per day)- $168.00

Ok - US is more litigious, has a higher cost of doing business - but the difference is still too great.

Biden made a small change in a couple of drugs, but it doesn't take effect for several years. Here's an article showing how much state representatives have gotten in pharma political contributions:
https://www.statnews.com/feature/prescription-politics/state-full-data-set/
and here is some gross data:
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus?ind=H04

So who gets screwed - that would be us.

pendennis

How much do Canadians pay in the way of U.S. R&D? Are Canadian-sold drugs fully costed vis-á-vis U.S.-sold drugs?

Europeans skip out on fully costed drugs and only pay current production costs plus limited mark-up.

R&D costs are fully borne by U.S. consumers.

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

The first step in controlling drugs prices is controlling the PBM’s.
I watched this hearing and the only Senator that really addressed the issue was Romney.
The rest were there to give speech’s and not listen to answers.

Effate Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.

The first step is controlling demand. I agree that Americans are getting ripped off paying an average of twice as much as other developed (western) nations but why as a society do we dismiss the demand for these drugs? Why has psychiatry’s quick diagnosis’ exponentially increased the prescription and use of psychotropic drugs misdiagnosing trauma or sadness for depression? Why are so many children on Ritalin or Adderall for attention deficit because often times parent(s) are not willing or do not have the skills/resources to put in the work to correct behaviors so it becomes an easy way out for parents/teachers? Why are we as a society so obese/sedentary and accept the conditions that are precipitated by this as the new norm? Why are we always looking for the easy fix such as creating shortages of A1C medications for weight loss?

tramsey Loc: Texas

Prescription drugs are even cheaper in Mexico than they are in Canada

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/health/us-drug-prices.html

Does anyone really think politicians wants honest answers or understand any of the above ? No - they want someone specific to blame . And most of all a forum ( committee hearings) to give speeches. If you watch each gave a 4 minute speech and the witness were allowed time to answer questions.
All show .

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

This all focuses on money. I'm amazed at how cheaply a lot of legislators can be purchased. What really disturbs me is the loss of life because a lot of Americans cannot afford to purchase their needed medicines. I'd like to see some figures on that, but I really don't know how you could isolate and track that one.