Lilly rolls out insulin discount program
http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/lilly-rolls-out-insulin-discount-program?
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Eli Lilly & Co. has outlined a new initiative, set to begin Jan. 1, 2017, that will offer access to Lilly insulin at discounted prices to patients via Blink Health’s mobile and web platforms through a partnership with Express Scripts.
Through the partnership, Express Scripts may reduce costs for patients paying full retail price at the pharmacy, including those without insurance or who are in the deductible phase of a high-deductible insurance plan. Those who pay full list price could save up to 40% through Blink Health, Lilly said, noting that it’s the first time Blink Health will provide discounted branded medication through its platform.
“We understand the burden people face when paying full price for insulin,” Lilly Diabetes VP Mike Mason said. “This platform will effectively allow Lilly to lower our insulin retail prices for users of this platform while not affecting the reimbursement system for other people living with diabetes.”
The discount program includes all presentations of Humalog, all Humulin U100 formulations and Basaglar, a long-acting follow-on biologic that Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim are introducing in December.
“The health care system is incredibly complex, and we hope this program is a first step that will drive more thinking and innovative solutions for people with diabetes,” Conterno said. “A more extensive solution will require leadership and cooperation across many stakeholders, including manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurers and patients. We’re committed to seeking additional solutions so that everyone who uses insulin has reasonable access.”
Patients can access Blink Health online or via mobile app, then enter the form, dosage and quantity of Lilly insulin needed. The discount is automatically applied and the prescription can be picked up at most pharmacies. The company noted that patients using Blink Health for the discount will be doing so outside their health plan, which means the new retail price may not be applied to annual deductibles. Patients whose prescription claims are reimbursed by a government program aren’t eligible.
Filed under: General Problems
So how does a person with no home and no income access this program? We try to keep our daughter in insulin but especially with our own medical expenses and trying to pretty much support her it’s breaking us!
Richard, you make a very valid point!
Arguably what we are confirming in this article is that the high price of drugs is substantially subsidized by government reimbursement programs in which price competition is against current policy. There would be no need for a discount program if price gouging unrelated to proven development costs of a drug was prosecuted as a Federal crime.