High Cost of Certain Specialty Rx Drugs Could Hinder Access for Some Patients
Roughly five million U.S. residents rely on specialty drugs to treat advanced and complex medical conditions, but the medications' high costs often can prevent people from accessing them. While providers tout the benefits of the breakthrough therapies' abilities to treat conditions that had previously been difficult to treat, the medications can cost upwards of $80,000 per course. Patient advocates worry that such drugs will only become more costly and inaccessible for patients as health insurers limit coverage for them, particularly in health plans sold through the Affordable Care Act's exchanges.
- "Specialty Drugs Save Lives, Come With Daunting Price Tags" (Murphy, AP/Washington Times, 3/11).