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New medications are greatly improving health outcomes and the overall quality of life and many are replacing or enhancing surgery and other invasive treatments; however, the cost of prescription drugs remains a problem. Coalition members suport creating far greater transparency in the drug industry and strongly support a provision for establishing an evidence based drug formulary with public input and openness.

From Rx for Reform

An Insurance Policy for Health Care Reform

NCHC Action Fund President and CEO, Ralph G. Neas, calls for an insurance policy for health care reform. 

Noting that last spring, leaders of the health care industry, including representatives from PhARMA, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association and American Hospital Association, met with President Obama and pledged to him and the American people that they would decrease the annual rate of cost increases by 1.5 percentage points to save $2 trillion or more over the next decade. Neas said the commitment that industry leaders made to the President and the American public “should be more than a photo op, press statement and promise.” Citing Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus’ piece about legislative cost containment efforts and needing a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that the rate of health care inflation is slowed, Neas urged that industry pledges to the President and the American people to control the growth of national health expenditures be codified and made enforceable as part of health reform.

 “Only enactment of a “failsafe” amendment will provide the American people with an insurance policy that health care reform will lower premiums and make quality care and coverage affordable for all,” he said.

Containing Costs and Avoiding Tax Increases While Improving Quality: Affordable Coverage and High Value Care

The National Coalition on Health Care’s recommendations, based upon the consensus view of 85 member organizations, to make the system less complex, reduce overly high prices, and create a truly competitive health care marketplace. The goal of the paper is to augment the NCHC Principles and Specifications with a more detailed and selective set of policy recommendations on cost containment and quality improvement.

From Facts & Research

Retiree Health Benefits, Underfunded in 40 States

The Pew Center on the States has rolled out a report entitled, The Trillion Dollar Gap: Underfunded State Retirement Systems and the Roads to Reform. The report highlights the gap at the end of fiscal year 2008 between the $2.35 trillion states had set aside to pay for employees’ retirement benefits and the $3.35 trillion price tag of those promises. 

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Coverage, Drug and Device Cost Containment, Economic Impacts, Financing, Innovation, Insurance, Policy Implementation, Prevention & Wellness, Vulnerable Populations

The Costly Impact of Physican Ownership of Medical Equipment

The Center for Studying Health System Change data bulletin entitled Physician Ownership of Medical Equipment finds that  self-referrals by physicians owning or leasing medical equipment fuels unnecessary utilization and contributes to the high cost of  care in the United States.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Drug and Device Cost Containment, Policy Implementation

Fact Sheet – Free Drug Samples

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that drug manufacturers report to Congress the annual number of free prescription drug samples they give to each practitioner.  Currently, little is known about the impact that drug samples have on physicians’ prescribing habits, or on drug costs.  This data will be a step toward learning more about the true impact of the practice.

Issue Area(s):

Drug and Device Cost Containment, Quality & Safety

Issue Areas

Almost half of all uninsured young adults with a chronic condition reported that their condition worsened during the previous 12 months due to lack of care.

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