patented drugs

June 13, 2003 2:00AM

Prescription Benefit Tied to Medicare may Deny Payments for Pricier, More Effective Drugs

Worried about rising expenditures for prescription drugs, many states are employing preferred lists to encourage doctors to prescribe older, lower-priced drugs and forego the latest, more expensive medicines.

If Congress succeeds in passing a Medicare prescription drug benefit this year, the debate over preferred drug lists - now raging in numerous states - is likely to explode onto the national stage.

The lists - also known as formularies - are, whether we like it or not, a form of rationing. Ask any Canadian.

Tags:

prescription drugs, drug prices, health care costs, medicare, prescription drug benefit, drug benefit plan, drug plan, preferred drug lists, patented drugs, generic drugs

February 27, 2003 2:00AM

Fair Pharmacare is a Fair First Step

John R. Graham

The provincial government has finally decided to cut back on one small area of health spending, by significantly increasing user fees for Pharmacare. Although many British Columbians are under the misapprehension that the Liberal government cut back health care spending, spending increased the day it took over from the NDP.

Tags:

pharmacare, prescription drugs, health spending, user fees, user fees for pharmacare, health care spending, medication, patented drugs

August 1, 2001 2:00AM