Bison Bud

Government attempts to drive down the cost of prescription meds has been in the news again lately. As most of us, I like the sound of this, but I think they are ignoring a big opportunity to help control these prices. Simply put, why do we have to have so many commercial ads for drugs that can only be obtained through a doctor's script? Seriously, there is at least one drug ad in every commercial break on TV and none of these drugs can be obtained without first going to the doctor. Not to mention that any of these heavily advertised drugs are ridiculously expensive should your doctor choose to prescribe them and I know this from personal experience. I honestly believe that the excessive cost of these drugs is directly proportional to the money spent to advertise them to folks that can't even purchase them directly. Frankly, Big Pharma simply has to recover these advertising funds before they can turn a profit, so the cost is pretty much built into the price and lord knows they are making some serious money overall. Maybe these ads and/or the budget for them could be limited in some way or possibly even restricted to doctor's journals, etc. and not put out there to the masses like it is now. Big Pharma literally spends billions of dollars each year on these ads! If we could cut into this advertising budget and pass along that money to savings on the actual use of the drugs, I think we could cut drug costs by at least 50%, at least on the newer drugs that seem to get all the ads. I will admit that the broadcasting people (the folks that get paid to run these ads) would suffer a big loss and would fight this idea tooth and nail, but I think it's at least worth cutting back a bit on the flood of drug ads we are currently being subjected to on air. I'd appreciate a sensible and honest discussion on this, if that's even possible.

cliff Hilbert Loc: Plano, TX

Yeah, but then there would be more ads of men dancing around smelling their clothes coming out of the dryer.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I love that response!

Bison Bud

No worse than all those singing Jardence commericals!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

People see the ads and ask their doctors to let them try it. Brilliant sales opportunity.

When in doubt about something, simply follow the money.

pendennis

To the original point about the Federal government intervening in prescription drug costs: The issue is going to be government price fixing. Clearly, this is not legal, even if Medicare has the patients' best interests at heart. There are already rumbles about drug companies going to court over price fixing pressures.

As to the advertising - It's a matter of 1st Amendment rights when it comes to advertising. I personally believe that drug companies should narrow their focus to outlets where physicians tend to subscribe (JAMA, etc.). How many doctors are being inundated with patient requests to try wh**ever new med comes on line. I noticed that some of the ads have become huge productions (Jardience, Ozympic, etc.). It's also caused huge problems with drugs like Ozympic being used for weight loss, instead of Type 2 diabetes control. There's also the cost, even without advertising costs. Ozympic costs $1400-1500 for a four week supply, even with some insurance co-pays.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Big Pharma advertises to the fools that think they know more than their doctors. Pharma is depending on the i***ts to pressure their doctors into prescribing these new wonder drugs and all will be well. The patient is satisfied that they got what they wanted, doctor satisfied to not hear about it anymore, and the drug companies because they make money. With many as in my case, part of the cost is covered by secondary insurance but it still drives the cost of insurance up for us. Big Pharma charges Americans the lions share of the cost of R & D, selling the same drug in other countries for much less. So, they screw us and the government screws us. I'm tired of paying for the world but what can you do?

lenben Loc: Seattle

A great sum of cash was spent on the part D legislation by Pharma to prevent the gov. from negotiating prices- clearly an anti-consumer outrage. Inroads are finally being made here with 10 drugs opened for Medicare negotiation. Meanwhile the whole of medicine is being co-opted by MBA's interested only in $$$ including s**ms like "Pharmaceutical benefit Managers"- middlemen who extract cash and drive up the cost for consumers and other middlemen who take a cut of physician's fees in a system preventing MD's from directly applying for their fees.It is getting worse and worse - medicine soon will be a branch of Wall street!!!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

You have no memory of the government's WAR ON: drugs, poverty, crime, etc., etc., etc. Washington isn't happy unless it is waring against something. And all we get are photo-ops and smiles from politicians.

wilpharm Loc: Oklahoma

these price cuts (if they happen) wont even be in effect for a couple more years....dont get in any rush for savings.Medicine is already a branch of Insurance companies..A lot of pharmacists & doctors, optomotrists & dentists think the same..I would not advise any youngster to get into pharmacy now...retail pharmacies are insurance company whores..sad..and then there is the medicare/medicaid issue

wilpharm Loc: Oklahoma

its not just physicians who are getting ripped!!

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

What is your position on insurance companies being able to negotiate their prices, or the VA?

lenben Loc: Seattle

Insurance companies negotiate with major employers for the price of coverage of their employees. There is some consumer protection in places with more than one insurance company. Once signed up the insurance companies can allow payments to doctors and pharmacists based on their internal rules-no longer negotiable. The VA is separate and is run based upon US Government allocation. The VA can and does negotiate pharmaceutical prices and the cost of their drugs is quite a bit lower than private insurance folks.

pendennis

Insurance companies, as long as they're in the private sector should be able to negotiate with drug makers as long as there's no collusion, anti-trust, etc. The VA should not be able to negotiate prices. They're a branch of the Federal government. The Feds, at any level, have no business in price negotiations.

We have enough problems in our own private sector drug company businesses. The American public pays a large chunk of the freight on drug development and research when drugs are exported, and foreign countries don't allow U.S. pharmaceutical companies to pass along those legitimate costs to non-U.S. consumers. Foreign countries also c***t in not recognizing legitimate U.S. patents (This is not just in the pharmaceutical business; it's all over the spectrum).

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

As long as the government is a customer they should be able to negotiate. Big pharma can always say no. Why should the government (us) pay more then anyone else? Why do you want to pay more taxes than you have to. A large portion of R&D is funded by the government. Big Pharma charges much less in other countries, countries that have not contributed to their R&D. How much of your portfolio is made up of Big Pharma?