The Health Care Reform Corner – From the editors of "The Pink Sheet"
What are policymakers and stakeholders in Washington saying and doing about health care reform? In this periodic BioPharma Today feature, the editors of "The Pink Sheet" and "The Pink Sheet" DAILY highlight some of the major developments chronicled in those publications.
Read today's features....
With the $80 billion pledge, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ensures that closing the infamous "donut hole" in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit will be included in comprehensive health care reform – or ready to move as part of a more incremental bill if universal coverage falls apart. Read the story here…
While the presence of a public plan in the health care reform debate has been a source of controversy on its own, the pharmaceutical industry has additional cause for alarm because of language in a draft bill that would give the government responsibility for negotiating drug prices for the public plan.
The concern, voiced by Johnson & Johnson VP of Health Policy Kathleen Buto, is the potential negative impact on innovation that could result if the government becomes actively engaged in drug price negotiations, as envisioned in the House tri-committee health care reform discussion draft legislation put forth by the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor Committees. Read the story here…
For the third time in three weeks, the Federal Trade Commission has waded into the debate on health care reform with recommendations on competitive practices in the prescription drug market.
The most recent foray is an interim report on the impact of authorized generics, issued June 24. Previously, the commission issued a report on follow-on biologics that was critical of extended brand exclusivity on June 10, and on June 23, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz touted the idea that banning reverse payment settlements between brand and generic firms could generate $12 billion in savings. Read the story here…
- Scott Steinke
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