Patients with chronic conditions, such as Hepatitis C, benefit immensely when breakthrough, life-changing drugs provide a cure where none existed before. But when states are driven to create access limitations to that same drug for their Medicaid populations, we have to acknowledge something is not quite right here.
Today's prescription drug market allows behaviors that overtly limit competition. Under current law, just as the exclusivity period for a new medication ends, a drug company can repackage essentially the same drug and secure additional years without competition. Once competitors are finally able to get in the game, branded drug companies can refuse to sell samples of their product to the generic companies, even though those samples are necessary for FDA-requiring testing.
Read Full Article »