NCHC Survey Finds Drug Industry Coupons Driving Medicare Costs
The National Coalition on Health Care released new research suggesting that marketing coupons for brand-name prescription drugs are influencing the drug treatments of more than 2 million seniors, despite a prohibition on their use in Medicare. A previously released study by Visante showed that the use of these coupons could drive up non-federal health costs by $32 billion in the next decade. NCHC's research, released today, shows that these coupons are costing Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers as well. With the evidence piling up, Congress and the administration should investigate the use of these coupons and their impact on spending in Medicare and across the health system. Addressing this issue would be a good first step to reducing the waste and unnecessary expenses driving up the health care costs.
