The world’s priciest drug may save lives. Can kids get it in time? – msn/WaPost
“Lenmeldy’s price tag ($4.25 million) raises questions about how private and public insurers will pay for the drug. Private plans are evaluating coverage decisions, according to James Swann, a spokesperson for AHIP, the major insurance lobby. And since only five hospitals will offer the drug, state Medicaid programs must hammer out how to cover the therapy when it’s only available in another state, experts said.”
Below is a link to CCSE’s analysis as Congress considered supercharging medical research funding eight years ago. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support. At the time, Republicans were pushing to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
“Which of us are most likely to gain access to expensive new medical technology? In the current American health care financing patchwork, access is determined largely by the type of insurance a person has as well as available cash. If survival depends on expensive new technology, the odds will be best for the wealthy and people covered by private health insurance, bought by employers or individuals, and Medicare, the federal program covering the elderly and disabled. But even those with what’s now considered to be ‘good coverage’ could face unaffordable out-of-pocket costs.”