Will Specialty Drug Prices Increase Health Care Inflation?

There has been a lot of talk about rising specialty drug prices and how they will affect health care costs. A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers even suggests high-cost medications for hepatitis C, oncology, and high cholesterol will drive up health care inflation.

Many pharmacists feel their hands are tied on this issue. After all, they don’t set drug prices; they just collect the payment from the patient or pharmacy benefit manager.

Pharmacists may not even be able to distribute some specialty drugs to patients, as they are part of a closed distribution network.

I think the issue of drug pricing presents an opportunity for pharmacists to get more involved with prescribers and patients in promoting cost-effective medication therapy. It is yet another reason for pharmacists to become an active part of the health care team.

If you haven’t thought about the impact this problem might have on your future, then you should.