Should drug prices be negotiated under part D of Medicare? And if so, how?

Health Aff (Millwood). 2008 Jan-Feb;27(1):33-43. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.1.33.

Abstract

Medicare's Part D prescription drug benefit has offered affordable coverage to millions of elderly Americans since its January 2006 implementation. A great deal of concern has been expressed about whether drugs are being purchased in a cost-effective manner. Many believe that the government should be negotiating prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. We look at prescription drug pricing under Part D by examining the logic behind existing arrangements and by reviewing initial evidence on the behavior of prices. We make a modest proposal for how to improve purchasing of prescription drugs in Medicare.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Drug Costs*
  • Drug Industry
  • Drug Prescriptions / economics*
  • Humans
  • Medicare Part D*
  • Negotiating*
  • United States