 Health Care |
Health Care |
|
|
AstraZeneca to cap inhaler costs at $35 |
AstraZeneca on Monday became the second company in recent weeks to announce it will cap the out-of-pocket costs that patients pay for its inhalers at $35. |
The cap is effective June 1 and will apply to the company's entire range of inhaler products used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including inhalers Symbicort, Breztri Aerosphere and Airsupra. The cap will be applicable for patients who are uninsured or underinsured.
The announcement, which follows a similar move by rival company Boehringer Ingelheim and comes amid scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers over the cost of inhalers, speaks to the political pressures facing drug manufacturers over the cost of widely used products.
The four major manufacturers of inhalers — Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Teva — are under investigation by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other Democrats for charging Americans significantly more than consumers pay overseas for the same products.
The inhaler makers are also facing scrutiny from federal regulators for anticompetitive practices that can delay lower-cost generics from coming to market.
The Federal Trade Commission recently challenged more than 100 patents as improperly listed in the Food and Drug Administration's database of patents and exclusivity information, including five of AstraZeneca's patents on its blockbuster inhaler Symbicort.
The move from both AstraZeneca and BI also follows similar action taken by insulin manufacturers like Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lilly, who committed to cap costs and slash list prices amid pressure. In a statement, Sanders said he has spoken to the CEOs of all the companies since the investigation launched and called on GlaxoSmithKline and Teva to take similar action.
|
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, I'm Nathaniel Weixel — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
|
|
How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
|
|
Online sales began Monday for the first over-the-counter birth control pill approved in the U.S. The product, Opill, can be bought online at Amazon and directly from Opill.com, said Sara Young, senior vice president and chief consumer officer at Perrigo, the pill’s manufacturer. Once the drugs are in stock, Walgreens and Walmart will sell them online, as well. Orders will be fulfilled within 24 to 48 hours, according … |
| |
| The National Institute of Health (NIH) found no evidence of brain injury or biological abnormalities among federal employees experiencing symptoms related to what has become widely known as "Havana syndrome," according to two studies published Monday. The studies, published in JAMA, are a result of a nearly five-year probe by the NIH seeking to evaluate differences between a healthy control group and federal employees who experienced … |
| |
|
The Biden administration will ban or phase out ongoing uses of asbestos, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Monday. The EPA issued a rule that set deadlines for industry to transition away from using the substance, which causes lung cancer. It will also bar imports of the type of asbestos currently used in the U.S. Historically, asbestos was used in roofing and cement — and may still be found in old buildings. … |
| |
|
Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- It's budget week in the House. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will testify twice in the House Wednesday to defend the White House budget request: In front of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations' health subcommittee
|
|
|
A MESSAGE FROM EXPRESS SCRIPTS BY EVERNORTH |
Reimagining what's possible for the pharmacy benefit |
 Express Scripts by Evernorth redefines savings and transparency with clear prescription cost breakdowns. Learn more.
|
|
|
Branch out with a different read: |
|
|
EPA bans asbestos, a deadly carcinogen still in use decades after a partial ban was enacted |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products. The final rule marks a major expansion of EPA regulation under a landmark 2016 law that overhauled … | |
|
Local and state headlines on health care: |
- They were injured at the Super Bowl parade. A month later, they feel forgotten (KCUR)
- As more couples struggle with IVF, business is booming (Boston Globe)
- In second blow, Feds now cite HCA's Mission Hospital for violating emergency treatment standards (Asheville Watchdog)
|
|
|
Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
|
|
Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
|
|
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was considering a plan to create a buffer zone between Ukrainian land and Russian border regions and Russian-held … Read more |
| Former President Trump raised the question Monday of whether former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson will be prosecuted for her now-disputed testimony … Read more |
|
|
Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
|
|
You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 |
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment