Comments on: To The Moon! Rx Prices Keep Rising http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/03/to_the_moon_rx_prices_keep_ris/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:31:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: ed http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/03/to_the_moon_rx_prices_keep_ris/#comment-2872 ed Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:37:37 +0000 http://plt.starledger.webfactional.com/2007/03/to_the_moon_rx_prices_keep_ris/#comment-2872 Hi Morris, Thanks for writing and good points,all. For whatever reason, the AARP fellow does appear critical, doesn't he? Perhaps they support Medicare D concept, but want it both ways, so they can continue criticizing. It is an interesting remark. And these prices are for the folks who pay full price, of course. One who has coverage, presumably, would recognize that. I hope. Lastly, I agree with you that AARP has an agenda. Most organizations do. Which is fine. I simply put this out there as I did, because the results are fresh, not because it should represent the last word. ed Hi Morris,

Thanks for writing and good points,all.

For whatever reason, the AARP fellow does appear critical, doesn’t he? Perhaps they support Medicare D concept, but want it both ways, so they can continue criticizing. It is an interesting remark.

And these prices are for the folks who pay full price, of course. One who has coverage, presumably, would recognize that. I hope.

Lastly, I agree with you that AARP has an agenda. Most organizations do. Which is fine. I simply put this out there as I did, because the results are fresh, not because it should represent the last word.

ed

]]> By: Morris Lewis http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/03/to_the_moon_rx_prices_keep_ris/#comment-2871 Morris Lewis Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:12:58 +0000 http://plt.starledger.webfactional.com/2007/03/to_the_moon_rx_prices_keep_ris/#comment-2871 Interesting that AARP doesn't like the plan since it supported Part D when it was passed. Also, looking at list prices doesn't really tell the correct story. Less than 10% of pharmaceutical sales is at full retail. Most purchasers of pharmaceuticals have coverage through plans that negotiate quite effectively, gaining concessions from both manufacturers and pharmacies. Thus, the purchaser either pays a copay or coinsurance that is substantially lower. For manufacturers, although list prices are rising rapidly, net prices are rising at a substantially lower rate. AARP, of course, has its own political agenda that includes government price controls and importation. Thus, its bias is toward exaggerating pharmaceutical costs. Interesting that AARP doesn’t like the plan since it supported Part D when it was passed. Also, looking at list prices doesn’t really tell the correct story. Less than 10% of pharmaceutical sales is at full retail. Most purchasers of pharmaceuticals have coverage through plans that negotiate quite effectively, gaining concessions from both manufacturers and pharmacies. Thus, the purchaser either pays a copay or coinsurance that is substantially lower.

For manufacturers, although list prices are rising rapidly, net prices are rising at a substantially lower rate. AARP, of course, has its own political agenda that includes government price controls and importation. Thus, its bias is toward exaggerating pharmaceutical costs.

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