 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Senators agree: Insulin costs too much, system needs fix |
Senators on both sides of the aisle voiced agreement Wednesday that out-of-pocket costs and list prices for insulin are too high, saying something should be done about it. |
The CEOs of the three top insulin manufacturers — Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk — as well as executives from top pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) were in the hot seat Wednesday. The PBMs pointed fingers at the drug companies, who in return blamed the PBMs. For their part, senators indicated a desire to change the entire system, with the hearing also previewing a debate on Thursday about bills targeting PBMs. "Americans die, get sicker than they should and go bankrupt because they cannot afford the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, while the drug companies and the PBMs make huge profits. That has got to change and this committee is going to do everything possible to bring about that change," Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said. Both parties and chambers seem to have common ground with legislation aimed at reforming the PBM industry, though Sanders noted that the "very modest" bills the committee will consider Thursday are not the end of his efforts. "I kinda feel like Hell's freezing over because chairman Sanders and I actually agree on something, and it's that something needs to be done with PBMs," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said. The committee on Thursday will try again to amend and advance bills aimed at increasing competition for generic drugs, increasing access to medicine for rare diseases, as well as changing PBM business practices. The panel met last week to consider the same slate of seemingly bipartisan bills, but the hearing was held up over internal process complaints and eventually postponed for a week. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Major stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry on Wednesday testified in front of a key Senate panel to address questions over the affordability of insulin, with the assembled witnesses, as expected, passing the blame amongst each other. Leaders from top insulin manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi joined with executives from top pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies CVS Health, Express Scripts and OptumRx … |
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| A panel of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously voted Wednesday that the benefits of making a birth control pill available over the counter outweigh the potential risks. The 17-0 vote represents a major step forward in the decades-long push to make birth control pills available without a prescription for the first time ever. The FDA is expected to make a final decision later this summer. … |
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Say goodbye to free coronavirus tests. Emergency measures providing complementary coronavirus tests will end for most people this week, when the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration formally runs out Thursday. The end of the free tests almost certainly means more people will contract COVID without knowing they have it. "We definitely know that when you add a copayment to a medical … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The House Oversight panel's coronavirus subcommittee holds a Thursday hearing on virus immunity.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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A skin patch to treat peanut allergies? Study in toddlers shows promise |
WASHINGTON (AP) — An experimental skin patch is showing promise to treat toddlers who are highly allergic to peanuts — training their bodies to handle an accidental bite. Peanut allergy is one of the most common and dangerous food allergies. Parents of allergic tots are constantly on guard against exposures that can turn birthday parties … | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- In South Florida, 'black snow' makes breathing difficult for some Black and Latino residents (NBC News)
- An outdated tracking system is a key factor in Texas' foster care shortcomings (KFF Health News)
- NC psych hospital failed to provide 'safe and therapeutic' environment, feds say (North Carolina Health News)
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Expanding Access to Alzheimer's Care & Treatment, May 11, 2-4 p.m. ET About 1 in 9 Americans over 65 suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, treatment options are still limited. Why is CMS declining coverage, and where are we in terms of new treatments on the horizon? The Hill will bring together lawmakers, researchers, doctors, caregivers and patients to explore the latest treatments and roadblocks, and discuss what more needs to be done to curb this disease. |
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- SFO becomes first US airport to formally launch airplane wastewater testing for emerging Covid-19 variants (CNN)
- Lawmakers press CMS to release new breakthrough device coverage rule (Stat)
- Addiction treatment medicine is vastly underprescribed, especially by race, study finds (The New York Times)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) criticized former President Trump for his response to the jury verdict this week in the E. Jean Carroll case … Read more |
| Former President Donald Trump is participating in a live 90-minute CNN town hall Wednesday in New Hampshire. The event, moderated by former chief White … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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