Patients With Chronic Illnesses Paying More for Specialty Drugs, Advocacy Group Says
The California Chronic Care Coalition -- which represents patients with complex medical conditions such as epilepsy, lupus and multiple sclerosis -- says that chronic disease patients are being discriminated against because they are having to pay a higher percentage of the overall cost for specialty prescription drugs. However, officials with the California Association of Health Plans say the higher cost-sharing is an effort to keep health insurance premiums down, adding that the Affordable Care Act caps patients' out-of-pocket spending.
- "Chronic Disease Patients Raise Alarm Over Cost-Sharing for Prescriptions" (Bartolone, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 6/2).