COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Exclusive: Makers took big price increases on widely used U.S. drugs
Mon Apr 4, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-drugpricing-idUSKCN0X10TH
Major drug companies took hefty price increases in the U.S., in some cases more than doubling listed charges, for widely used medications over the past five years, a Reuters analysis of proprietary data found.
Prices for four of the nation's top 10 drugs increased more than 100 percent since 2011, Reuters found. Six others went up more than 50 percent. Together, the price increases on drugs for arthritis, high cholesterol, asthma and other common problems added billions in costs for consumers, employers and government health programs.
Routine price increases by bigger players may draw less attention, but they add up. Sales for the top 10 drugs went up 44 percent to $54 million in 2014, from 2011, even though prescriptions for the medications dropped 22 percent, according to IMS Health data.
At the top of the list was AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N), which raised the price of arthritis drug Humira more than 126 percent, Reuters found. Next were Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA), which raised prices for arthritis treatment Enbrel and multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone by 118 percent
For GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (GSK.L) Advair asthma drug, Reuters found a 67 percent increase. But spokeswoman Jenni Ligday said that, with discounts and rebates, prices actually fell during the period.
Even after discounts, pharmacy benefit managers told Reuters they pay annual price increases on top medications of up to 10 percent. By comparison, the U.S. consumer price index rose an average of 2 percent annually over the last five years.
Mon Apr 4, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-drugpricing-idUSKCN0X10TH
Major drug companies took hefty price increases in the U.S., in some cases more than doubling listed charges, for widely used medications over the past five years, a Reuters analysis of proprietary data found.
Prices for four of the nation's top 10 drugs increased more than 100 percent since 2011, Reuters found. Six others went up more than 50 percent. Together, the price increases on drugs for arthritis, high cholesterol, asthma and other common problems added billions in costs for consumers, employers and government health programs.
Routine price increases by bigger players may draw less attention, but they add up. Sales for the top 10 drugs went up 44 percent to $54 million in 2014, from 2011, even though prescriptions for the medications dropped 22 percent, according to IMS Health data.
At the top of the list was AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N), which raised the price of arthritis drug Humira more than 126 percent, Reuters found. Next were Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA.TA), which raised prices for arthritis treatment Enbrel and multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone by 118 percent
For GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (GSK.L) Advair asthma drug, Reuters found a 67 percent increase. But spokeswoman Jenni Ligday said that, with discounts and rebates, prices actually fell during the period.
Even after discounts, pharmacy benefit managers told Reuters they pay annual price increases on top medications of up to 10 percent. By comparison, the U.S. consumer price index rose an average of 2 percent annually over the last five years.
CAUTION ... do not read the article below in the presence of objects that can be thrown at your screen and cause serious damage.
Take care,
Annie
Pfizer CEO Ian Read's 2014 Compensation Rises 23% To $23.3 Mln
3/12/2015 11:13 PM ET
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) revealed in a regulatory filing on Thursday that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ian Read received a 2014 total compensation that grew 23 percent from 2013, reflecting strong increase in pension accrual, and a slight increase in salary.
The New York-based world's largest drugmaker revealed this in an annual preliminary proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.
Read, who has led Pfizer for more than four years since December 2010, received a total compensation of $23.28 million, including base salary, incentives and other compensation in 2014, compared to the $18.95 million he received in 2013, and the $25.63 million he got in 2012.
The total compensation received by Read in 2014 includes $1.82 million as salary, annual incentive award of $3.0 million, equity awards of $6.45 million, option awards of $6.36 million, pension accrual of $5.27 million, and all other compensations totaling 0.39 million.
Meanwhile, the company added that Read does not receive any compensation for his service as a Director or as Chairman.
The compensation committee approved Read's annual incentive award of $3.0 million to reflect his outstanding performance and leadership and Pfizer's overall performance relative to its business goals.
Read's salary was up compared to $1.78 million in 2013 and $1.74 million in 2012. Pension accrual was sharply higher than the $1.21 million in 2013 as well as stock awards and options were slightly higher. However, the annual incentive, and all other compensations were slightly lower than in 2013.
In February 2015, the committee approved 2015 base salary of $1.87 million, effective April 1, 2015.
I just went to my primary care Doc two days ago to get all new scripts as the old had expired.
My wife was just Dx'd with Type 2 Diabetes. As you can imagine, Rx's for her for diabetes meds and test equipment.
A total of five Rx's for me, each for 90 days, and a total of four Rx's for my wife. That is nine 90 day prescriptions ..... our total out of pocketcost for all meds and supplies = $0.00!
Maybe those of you who feel as if you're being "ripped off" should diligently check your suppliers costs. Which should have been done in the beginning. Unfortunately, in most cases, you are stuck with what you have until the end of the year when you and change and apply for different Rx coverage..
Jim Evridge
each year i go crazy trying to find the part D that will cover me the best.....and haven't had as good of luck as you.
of course i know it also depends on what state you are in, if you are over 65, etc..
in my state they don't have any 'secondary' type insurances available for people under 65---i tried aarp also & they said i had to be over 65.
oh, the majic number!!!
4 1/2 more years & maybe i'll get 0 co pay too :)