They may need extra security for this one: The White House has scheduled a forum on escalating prescription drug prices.
The hearing, set for Nov. 20 in the nation's capital, promises to be a platform for all parties, from consumers to politicians to drug makers, to air their concerns about the shape this battle is taking.
By most accounts, it's become the hottest single political and health care topic of the moment. As Big Pharma continues to pump out new designer drugs capable of slowing down and even curing chronic diseases, the American public, and its elected officials, are increasingly decrying the cost of these new drugs. "Rein in the designer drugs!" has been the battle cry of aspiring political leaders, and recent studies have indicated the issue is a high priority among members of the general public.
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And so the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to bring all the players into one place to see if any consensus on any of the facets of the topic could be reached. Technically, the forum won't just look at specialty drug prices. HHS said it will "explore pharmaceutical innovation, access, affordability and better health."
But the language of the invitation itself seemed to make HHS's intent clear. It read: "The high and growing cost of drugs has created hardship for families, employers and states. Specialty medications represent only 1 percent of all prescriptions but, in 2014, these medications resulted in over 31 percent of all drug spending."
The invitations have just gone out, so the guest list isn't fixed yet. It'll be held at HHS offices. For those who can't get a seat, the forum will be live streamed.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
