continually 05.05.17 About 60 percent of American adults takes at least one prescription drug, and many take several. Prescription drug spending has reached record highs in recent years, totaling $425 billion in 2015 16.7 percent of overall health care spending in the United States. We recognize the inherent challenges for patients, payors and providers as drug prices continue to rise and are committed to creating value and improving health by helping to make medications accessible and affordable. Patients Lose Access When They Can t Afford Their Medicines With so many Americans taking prescription drugs as part of their regular health care, the issue of cost is never far from their minds: 85 percent report being personally concerned about rising drug costs. We know that cost concerns affect the choices consumers make about their care, and have the potential to impact adherence to needed medications. About one in five consumers reports delaying filling a prescription because of concern about their ability to afford it. Supporting Competition to Drive Down Costs Price inflation for brand name drugs continues to put upward pressure on overall drug spending. This matters because even though brand name drugs make up just 15 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S., they account for 75 percent of total pharmaceutical spending. We support increasing competition in the pharmaceutical market, particularly from lower-cost, clinically equivalent generics and biosimilars , because it is one of the most effective ways to expand patient access to more affordable drugs. Unfortunately, at the start of 2017, more than 4,000 generic applications were pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Infographic: Addressing the Complex Problem of Rising Prescription Drug Costs Our Multi-Pronged Approach As one of the largest drug purchasers in the U.S. health care system, we employ industry-leading strategies to encourage more competitive pricing, reduce trend and make drugs more affordable and accessible for patients who need them. Of the deep discounts negotiated by CVS Caremark, more than 90 percent are passed along to clients, who can use them to lower employees out-of-pocket costs or premiums. For more information about CVS Health s efforts to improve pharmacy care, visit our Rising Drug Prices information center . And to stay informed about the most talked-about topics in health care, register for content alerts and our bi-weekly health care newsletter . Related Articles Going the Extra Mile: CVS Specialty CareTeam Members Provide Personalized Support CVS Specialty CareTeam pharmacist Samir provides personalized support to patients living with complex, chronic diseases. Managing Diabetes: CVS Health Can Help Four things that people living with diabetes can do to help them better manage the disease and prevent debilitating and costly complications. U.S. Health Care Evolution & Outlook: Merlo at Economic Club of New York CVS Health President & CEO Larry Merlo sits down with Fortune senior correspondent Susie Gharib to discuss important health care topics. Related Press Releases 05.15.17 CVS Pharmacy Launches Long Live Skin Campaign to Increase Awareness Around Sun Safety and Skin Health 12.13.16 CVS Health Introduces New "Transform Diabetes Care" Program to Improve Health Outcomes and Lower Overall Health Care Costs 02.25.16 CVS Health Foundation Supports New Program for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis, Disclosure and Education 07.30.15 CVS Health and IBM Tap Watson to Develop Care Management Solutions for Chronic Disease 10.31.14 CVS Health Research Institute Study Finds Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients Less Likely to Need Treatment Intensification When Started on a Generic Drug 08.18.14 CVS Caremark's Accordant Health Services Receives NCQA Disease Management Accreditation anxious train
is senseless Addressing the Complex Problem of Rising Drug Costs ward off
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