We’re paying too much for prescription drugs

A recent survey found what many in the healthcare space have known to be true: Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe that prescription drug prices are unreasonably high. Confirmed by a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, respondents cited the drug companies’ desire to maximize profits as the reason for these soaring prices. The net effect: Rising drug costs now ranks among the top policy concerns for Americans.  

Both sides of the aisle — Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike — are in agreement. Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) introduced the Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015, which would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers and lower barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada.   Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) introduced a bill this summer that would allow individuals to purchase their medications from a pharmacy outside the United States. And, this past year, numerous states considered legislation that would provide more transparency by requiring drug manufacturers to disclose their research, development, marketing and manufacturing costs.   

{mosads}At Ascension, caregivers at our more than 1,900 sites of care, including 129 hospitals and more than 30 senior care facilities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, are seeing firsthand the negative effects of these price increases. Time and again, pharmaceutical companies are increasing both brand name and generic drug prices with little explanation or reason.  

Many of these drugs are essential for so many of our patients and often, there is not a safer, lower-cost alternative. Several of these life-saving drugs are increasing in price by hundreds of percentage points a year. For example, a brand name drug that is used to reduce high blood levels of calcium has increased by 3,000 percent from last year. High drug costs are significantly threatening patient access to critical treatments, increasing patient out-of-pocket expenses and creating financial burden for both hospitals and patients.  

That’s why Ascension is taking several steps to ensure that our patients have access to the life-saving prescription drugs that they need but can’t necessarily afford. We’ve created a nationwide joint physician, pharmacist, nursing and administrative leaders group to determine safe and cost-effective products and processes. We’re also developing a national formulary to reduce unnecessary variation across our organization. We aim to change our ordering patterns if a generic version of a brand name drug that also provides a safe and effective outcome for patients at a lower cost is available.  

The Kaiser poll also found that while a quarter of respondents say they have a difficult time paying for their drugs, that rate only increases among those with lower incomes or those in worst health. These are patients we serve and help through the Public Health Service 340B Drug Pricing Program, a critical federal program for many of our patients who rely on affordable prescription drugs. While the program has proven beneficial and necessary for our patients to receive healthcare services and prescription drugs at an affordable cost, there is discussion of scaling back or significantly reducing the benefits of the program.  

Our mission is to provide the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are struggling. Nearly one in five Americans failed to fill a prescription last year because they could not afford it.  We need to ensure our patients have access to prescription medications they can afford — and we can’t do it alone.  

Ascension calls on Congress to continue prioritizing soaring drug prices as a top healthcare concern, to preserve the integrity of the 340B program and to help us guarantee patient access to life-saving, affordable medications.  

Henkel, FACHE, is president and CEO of Ascension Health. A subsidiary of Ascension, the nation’s leading non-profit healthcare system, Ascension Health includes hospitals, outpatient centers, and senior, home health and long-term care facilities.