Here are six articles published by Becker's Hospital Review this past week highlighting manufacturing issues at Pfizer's drug plant in Kansas, Sen. Bernie Sander's new drug importation bill and more.
1. Drug spending rose faster under ACA plans than other health plans
Health plans created under the ACA saw prescription drug spending increased at more than three times the rate of commercial health plans and most federal plans in 2016, according to a new report from Express Scripts.
2. FDA: Drug manufacturing at Pfizer's Kansas plant is 'out of control'
The Food and Drug Administration identified numerous issues with Pfizer's drug manufacturing plant in McPherson, Kan.
3. Study: Insurers pay twice as much as hospitals for orthopedic implants
Insurers pay more than twice the amount for orthopedic implants than hospitals do, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
4. Why pharmacists can't speak up when they know customers are overpaying for drugs
Patients can often pay less for their generic medications if they sidestep insurance and pay out of pocket, but contracts with pharmacy benefit managers forbid pharmacists from telling customers this information.
5. Bernie Sanders introduces drug importation bill to lower medicine costs: 5 takeaways
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a bill that would allow Americans to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada — as long as they meet specific safety standards, reports The Hill.
6. FDA approved record number of generic drugs in 2016
The Food and Drug Administration approved a record-high amount of generic drugs last year.
More articles on supply chain:
Bernie Sanders introduces drug importation bill to lower medicine costs: 5 takeaways
Drug spending rose faster under ACA plans than other health plans
FDA: Drug manufacturing at Pfizer's Kansas plant is 'out of control'