The inability to get your GLP-1 weight-loss drug could be as much about it being in drug shortage as well as how much pharmacies get for dispensing the drug.
About The Podcast:
Millions of Americans feel confused and frustrated in their search for quality healthcare coverage.
Between out-of-control costs, countless inefficiencies, a lack of affordable universal access, and little focus on wellness and prevention, the system is clearly in dire need of change.
Hosted by healthcare policy and technology expert Marc S. Ryan, the Healthcare Labyrinth Podcast offers accessible, incisive deep dives on the most pressing issues and events in American healthcare.
Marc seeks to help Americans become wiser consumers and navigate the healthcare maze with more confidence and certainty through The Healthcare Labyrinth website and his book of the same name.
Marc is an unconventional Republican who believes that affordable universal access is a wise and prudent investment. He recommends common-sense solutions to reform American healthcare.
Tune in every week as Marc examines the latest developments in the space, offering analysis, insights, and predictions on the changing state of healthcare in America.
About The Episode:
On this episode, Marc discusses his exhaustive hunt for his GLP-1 weight-loss drug to treat his diabetes. He found that the inability to get your GLP-1 weight-loss drug could be as much about it being in drug shortage as well as how much pharmacies get for dispensing the drug.
Key Takeaways:
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are used to treat a number of disease states as well as weight-loss in general.
GLP-1s are very expensive and also in short supply.
Americans have a hard time obtaining GLP-1s due to major demand, short supply, as well as how expensive brands are reimbursed.
Most chain drug stores and independents could not ensure a consistent supply of my GLP-1 for treatment.
In addition to the shortage issue, many of these drug chains and independents were unwilling to aid me because they lost money on every GLP-1 they sold. This occurs on other brand drugs too. The more expensive the drug, the more they lose. This is one of the hidden reasons for the inability to obtain these drugs.
Just Walmart Pharmacy had the customer service policy to go the extra mile to help its patients get GLP-1s.
Brand drug makers offer few discounts to wholesalers on these drugs and therefore wholesalers offer few discounts to pharmacies.
Pharmacies get reimbursed poorly for GLP-1s by pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), yet PBMs charge health plans and employer groups very high prices.
In addition, PBMs do get rebates from brand drug makers for favorable formulary placement of GLP-1s but usually keep all or most of the rebate. The discount is not given to pharmacies, consumers, or employer groups.
The only entities making out on GLP-1s and other brand drugs are drug makers and PBMs.
This is yet more evidence that we need major drug price reform – negotiation of prices, elimination of rebates, and transparency in the opaque drug supply channel.
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Resources
The Healthcare Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance
