U.S. spending on
prescription drugs grew just barely in 2011, according to the annual report
from IMS Health, which keeps track of these things.
But the reason for the barely discernible increase of 0.5 percent, to
$320 billion, was not the expected one.
Normally, a slowdown in spending is because the drug industry hasn't
produced many breakthrough medications — with their hefty price tags. But that
wasn't the case this time around. Last year saw "the introduction of the
most new medicines in a decade," according to the report, including
"breakthrough therapies ... to treat several types of cancer, multiple
sclerosis, hepatitis C and cardiovascular conditions."
Greater use of generics had something to do with the leveling off. In
2011, according to IMS, 80 percent of dispensed prescriptions were generics and
generic spending grew by $5.6 billion.
But the bigger reason for the slow growth was a decline in actual use
of prescription drugs, particularly by seniors, who are traditionally the
biggest consumers of the products. Patients ages 65 and older reduced their use
of prescription drugs by 3.1 percent, with the biggest drop coming in the use
of medicines to control blood pressure.
According to the study, the decline went hand in hand with a drop in
physician office visits and non-emergency room hospital admissions. Those are
the places where drugs are most often prescribed.
The trend has been noticeable since the economy went sour several years
ago and is considered partly responsible for two years of very slow growth in
health spending overall.
The one group for whom prescription drug spending rose was young adults
ages 19 to 25. That coincided with a provision allowing them to remain on their
parents' health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.
JULIE ROVNER
npr.org
No comments:
Post a Comment