Prescription drug costs rise by $21B

Article Abstract:

The prescription drug tab in the US rose by almost $21 billion in 2000, with just 23 drugs responsible for mor than half the spending increase. Retail spending on drugs increased 19% to $132 billion in 2000, with treatments for arthritis, depression, cholesterol and ulcers among those leading the way. The development reflects a 5-year trend toward higher prescription-drug spending that has employers scrambling to reduce their share of drug costs, often by shifting more payments to workers or encouraging the use of lower-cost generic drugs.

Market information - general, Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing, Ethical Preparations

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Patients pay for growing drug costs

Article Abstract:

Employers and health insurers are shifting the cost of prescription drugs to patients due to the rapidly increasing prices of drugs. Among the new measures are three-tier insurance plans in which patients have to pay higher co-payments for expensive, branded drugs, the increase of co- payments themselves, the withdrawal of co-payments and requiring patients to pay a percentage of the costs of a prescription and the addition of a fourth tier in which patients have to pay 100% of the cost of certain drugs.

Consumer prices, Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers, Medical Care Insurance

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