As useful stand-ins for biologics targeting a range of inflammatory diseases, biosimilars have made significant inroads across Europe as less expensive alternatives. Denmark, for example, realized a cost savings of 64% after instituting a mandatory national switch from the originator infliximab to its biosimilar counterpart. In the U.S., however, a considerably smaller fraction of rheumatologists…
Search results for: prescription drug prices
Are Your Patients at Risk? Advocacy Matters
When insurance company practices put patients at risk, advocacy is an important tool physicians can use to make a real difference. You can make a difference.
Biologic Spending & Price Trends
Any given rheumatology patient who needs a biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) will spend $22,000–44,000 on their medication each year…
The Cost of Free Pharmaceutical Services
The cards sat, untouched, in a corner of my desk. In the 1800s, it was common for American saloons to provide patrons with a free meal. Of course, the meal came with a catch: The meals were predictably salt laden and designed to encourage patrons to drink more beer. Hence was born the expression, “There…
Bending, Not Breaking
“And of course, I am not telling you to do it. That would be illegal.” As a general rule, I try not to instruct my patients to break the law. My business model depends on repeat customers, so placing a patient at risk of getting arrested—even if that risk is remote—doesn’t seem like a good…
ACR Affiliate Society Council Spotlights State Efforts for Advocacy
So far it has been a busy year for the Affiliate Society Council (ASC). Forty-three states are now affiliated with the ACR through the ASC, and we may add another next year. Also, many state legislative sessions have wrapped up, so it’s a great time to provide an overview of the successes—and some of the…
ACR Hill Visits Yield Key Bill Support; Plus Medicare, Biosimilar Wins
Greetings from Washington, D.C., where ACR leaders just held more than 100 meetings on Capitol Hill supporting reforms to step therapy and prior authorization, increased reimbursement for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), solutions to the rheumatology workforce shortage, and rheumatology-specific research at the Pentagon. We’re already hearing great news about our successes: Hours after our visit,…
ACR Issues Position Statements on Key Rheumatology Issues
The ACR recently issued three new position statements on key issues facing rheumatologists and patients with rheumatic diseases: step therapy, affordable prescription drug pricing and a special waived test designation for synovial fluid crystal analysis performed by rheumatologists. Here is a detailed look at each. Addressing Step Therapy Step therapy or fail first protocols require patients…
ACR Honors U.S. Sen. Susan Collins
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is the recipient of the ACR’s 2018 Award for Public Leadership in Rheumatology. Sen. Collins has championed several pieces of legislation that support rheumatologists and rheumatology patients, and she has taken part in multiple efforts to address ongoing concerns in rheumatology. “Sen. Collins has consistently worked both sides of the aisle…
8 Ways to Help Your Patients with Medication Costs
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comes to your office and needs a medication. You prescribe it, and the patient’s insurance plan covers it. The patient begins the medication and slowly but surely feels better. Prescribing drugs for a patient should be this simple but rarely is, thanks to the high cost of drugs and…
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