High prescription drug prices are driving the cost of health care in the U.S. and Michigan to unsustainable levels. Now, a new report from the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition shows three prescription drugs that are often given in hospital settings can be even more expensive for Michigan patients depending on the hospital where they’re treated.
The affordability of prescription drugs is a priority concern for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. We’ve developed creative solutions to mitigate these high prices for our group customers and members. We’re continuing to expand those efforts, while we’re advocating for affordability in the health care system.
The Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition is an organization representing employers who buy health care insurance for their employees. Its study shows that health care purchasers are concerned about the affordability of health care.
The coalition highlighted a need to address variations in prices across Michigan. While the drugs studied are already expensive at the prices drugmakers set, the report shows that price markups at hospitals are driving up the cost of care for people who need these medications.
Blue Cross has many strategies in place to reduce the cost of these prescription drugs for our customers and members. Here are two:
- Our pharmacists and doctors identify safe, clinically effective, lower-cost options among biosimilars approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and we make those the preferred medications on our covered drug lists.
- Our pharmacy site of care program directs our members to receive injections and infusions through doctor’s offices, ambulatory infusion centers and home infusion providers for high-quality care at a cost lower than receiving these medications in a hospital outpatient department, in cases where it’s safe to receive treatment elsewhere.
We’ll continue to develop programs like these to benefit our customers and members, while we advocate for change to make prescription drugs and the health care system more affordable for us all.
Learn more about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's commitment to affordability here.
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