Prescription Drugs

From the Government Accountability Office: 

Brand-Name Prescription Drug Pricing: Lack of Therapeutically Equivalent Drugs and Limited Competition May Contribute to Extraordinary Price Increases looks at the frequency of drug price increases from 2000-2008, the types of drugs that had price increases, and the factors that may have contributed to these increases. The study found that the number of yearly price increases more than doubled, and most of the increases ranged from 100-499 percent. (December 2009)

From the Kaiser Family Foundation:

Medicare Part D 2010 Data Spotlight: A Comparison of PDPs Offering Basic and Enhanced Benefits examines key differences between the basic and enhanced Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), including monthly premiums, cost-sharing, and coverage in the doughnut hole. It also looks at whether plan names convey meaningful differences between basic and enhanced PDPs. (December 2009)

Medicare Part D Spotlight: Part D Plan Availability in 2010 and Key Changes Since 2006 uses information released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) about Medicare Part D prescription drug plans that will be available in 2010. The brief provides an overview of the different options available in 2010 and highlights key changes from previous years. (November 2009)

From the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

Price Negotiation for the Medicare Drug Program: It Is Time to Lower Costs for Seniors explores the restriction that prohibits Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices for beneficiaries. Without such a restriction, Part D, like other public programs such as Medicaid and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), could save billions of dollars and finally close the “doughnut hole.” (October 2009)