I am pleased to report that ASHP has joined the Steering Committee of the
Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP). The campaign’s goal is to foster a national dialogue on escalating drug prices and to find market-based solutions to address them. A project of the National Coalition on Health Care, the campaign includes the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Kaiser Permanente, AARP, and many other prominent organizations concerned about the impact on patients of rapidly escalating drug prices.
The spectrum of drugs experiencing large price increases is wide, and ranges from long available generics used to treat common chronic conditions to cancer and critical care medications. New specialty drugs with the potential to cure or mitigate once untreatable diseases are also often priced out of the reach of many patients.
The problems associated with escalating drug prices are highly complex and lack easy solutions, which is exactly why ASHP has taken on this issue as a top priority on behalf of our members and their patients. We believe that CSRxP has the best chance of sparking a national debate about the issue, with the capacity to bring together key stakeholders to identify market-based solutions that preserve the free enterprise system while ensuring that patients have access to affordable pharmaceuticals.
ASHP has a long history of leading efforts on drug shortages and various other clinical pharmacy, supply chain, access, and public health issues. ASHP led early efforts on the design of formulary and P&T systems, which resulted in the creation of evidence-based methods to improve medication therapy outcomes and patient safety — and to do so in a cost-conscious manner. It is for these reasons that we believe ASHP and its members can effect change in this area through the work of the campaign.
By joining CSRxP, ASHP will be able to provide the perspective of our members who are on the front lines of this problem, and we will work collaboratively with our partners to ensure that medications are accessible to those who need them. Ensuring sustainable drug pricing and access are long-term efforts, and ASHP is in it for the long run. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this important issue and working with you to maintain the affordability of these lifesaving medications.
Thank you for all that you do on behalf of your patients and for being members of ASHP.
Paul