Rx Prices Make Minorities ‘Desperate’
5 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // May 24th, 2007 // 3:16 pm
The cost of prescription drugs leads many Hispanics and African-Americans to take “desperate measures,” like delaying filling a prescription or skipping doses, according to a recent AARP national study of approximately 2,000 adults 18 years and older.
The study also found a high level of support in the Hispanic and African American communities for state legislation to make prescription drugs more affordable.
Among the findings:
- When asked about their ability to pay for prescription drugs over the next two years, 61 percent of Hispanics and 68 percent of African-Americans expressed concern;
- Of those who purchased prescription drugs within the past year, 41 percent of Hispanics and 38 percent of African Americans had a problem paying for them;
- More than 87 percent of Hispanics and African-Americans support state legislation to allow the states to do bulk purchasing and pass savings to those without adequate drug coverage;
- A big majority - 81 percent of Hispanics and 79 percent of African-Americans, support legislation that would require drugmakers to report their spending on marketing to doctors.
More reading…
AARP press release;
AARP report.[tags]African-Americans, Hispanics[/tags]
James MacInnis
Give me a break - crap
Some of these people pay $3000 and up to sneak into the US - can’t afford their meds? Maybe expect someone else to pay?????
ed
Hi James MacInnis,
Thanks for writing.
I can’t speak for AARP. I only chose to post the item, because there’s great interest in pricing.
However, you raise an interesting question - were any of the survey participants here illegally? And I don’t know.
But I’m not sure we should assume that’s the case. There are many Hispanics and African-Americans in the NY metro area, for instance, who have been here all their lives. And such people may participate in surveys.
So for now, that’s all I can offer.
Thanks for stopping by,
ed - the pharmalot guy
James MacInnis
I think over the years I’ve read some of your articles from that Newspaper. Since I’m retired now from big Pharma I can speak freely. I have no ax to grind except for people in this country who seem to think socialized medicine, price controls, more gate keepers, etc, etc is the way to go. All I can say has been said many times before. Our government should not be in the business of redistributing health care, medicine or a lot of other “free stuff” people think they are going to get or “deserve to get” or feel entitled to get” as a US citizen. Because it’s not free. Sure there are many who have no means to pay and are sick and we do help those people. A lot! Like everything else in life though we keep expanding the pool of takers until we arrive at the tipping point. Didn’t mean to be boring. Right now, I’m serving my country as everybody should - at least for several years - to say they did their part to defend the country. I’m back in the National Guard working on the US -Mexico border. Proving once again that we can control our borders and “illegal immigration” if we really want to.
Chris
Seems to me there are some things that a decent society should provide for its members; education, healthcare, affordable housing and so on. There could be enough going into the system via taxation to provide this. It’s not just enough to provide healthcare for only those that can afford it. It’s not free of course but govt subsidies could make it attainable for more people. Sure there are freeloaders but I imaging many more genuinely needing help and who can’t afford it than spongers. (What was it last week - one in seven in the US officially ‘poor’?) That’s what a resonable society does, isn’t it?
James A. Macinnis
I’m glad to say that a name is all we share. I live hear in Canada. Today I went to the doctors. It was free. Sure I payed for the cream he gave me for my rash but the trip was free. Last winter I was in the hopsital with the flu. I need some IVs it was free. Why shouldn’t it be. Somethings the government should pay for. Our taxes may be higher but I didn’t need to bring my credit card to the er when I broke my hand last year.