MHA Press Room

2012 prescription spending: $2262 per Medicare patient

In 2012, this was the breakdown of overall prescription drug spending by patient’s type of coverage:

• $2262.32 Medicare (notice that this is about 2.5 times commercial patients) 
• $ 846.85 Commercial 
• $ 450.58 Medicaid

Read more from the AHA Resource Center blog here.

Generic Drug Utilization on the Rise

More Americans are cutting their prescription drug costs by switching to generic medications. Generic use is especially high among participants in the new Medicare drug benefit, according to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For the full story, click here.

FDA take steps to make complete drug list available electronically

The Food & Drug Administration on Aug. 23 issued a proposed rule that would require drug makers to electronically submit information to the agency’s list of drugs on the market, part of which is currently kept on paper. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the proposal would help to keep an accurate, up-to-date inventory of drugs on the market and make it easier to respond to drug emergencies such as recalls and drug shortages.

The list, which is used by health care providers and others, includes information on manufacturers, ingredients, dosage forms, strengths and labeling for more than 120,000 drug products. In addition to automating the listing process, the rule clarifies which drug establishments must list their drugs and what information they should submit. For more, see the FDA announcement.

[ via AHA News Now ]