Tuesday, February 26, 2013

US Debt Reduction Sequester Spending Solution #16: Let Medicare Make Drug Purchases Based on Comparative Effectiveness

Presently, the US Congress has not permitted Medicare to factor in studies of the Comparative Effectiveness of various drugs when making its drug purchase decisions.

Medicare would get substantial reductions in drug prices it pays each year if it were allowed to factor in Comparative Effectiveness studies which show that there are much cheaper, but just as effective, drugs that they could acquire.

My recommendation here is that Medicare be allowed to factor in studies of the Comparative Effectiveness of various drugs when making its drug purchase decisions.  This is a much fairer way to reduce US Government Spending than to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Benefits.