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To prepare: Review the Congress website provided in the Resources and identify one recent (within the past 5 years) proposed health policy. Review the health policy you identified and reflect on the background and development of this health policy. Post a description of the health policy you selected and a brief background for the problem or issue being addressed. Explain whether you believe there is an evidence base to support the proposed policy and explain why. Be specific and provide examples.

Paper For Above instruction

The recent health policy I have selected from the congressional website is the "Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans Act," proposed in the past five years, specifically around 2022. This policy aims to address the rising costs of prescription medications, which have become a significant barrier to healthcare access and economic stability for many Americans. The background of this policy stems from the increasing trend of pharmaceutical price hikes, which have outpaced inflation and household income growth, leading to decreased medication adherence and worse health outcomes for vulnerable populations. The policy proposes measures such as allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies, capping out-of-pocket expenses for seniors, and promoting the importation of lower-cost drugs from other countries.

The problem being addressed by this policy is multifaceted. First, the high cost of prescription drugs limits access for low-income individuals and the elderly, contributing to health disparities. Second, the financial strain caused by expensive medications leads many to skip doses or forego treatment altogether, resulting in increased hospitalization rates and higher overall healthcare costs. Third, the lack of negotiation power for Medicare and other government programs has historically contributed to inflated drug prices.

Evaluating whether there is an evidence base supporting this proposed policy involves reviewing current research on drug pricing and the outcomes of similar initiatives. Multiple studies demonstrate that allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices can significantly reduce medication costs. For instance, a report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO, 2021) estimates that permitting Medicare to negotiate could save taxpayers billions of dollars annually. Additionally, countries like Canada and the UK, which have government mechanisms for negotiating drug prices, generally have lower medication costs and comparable health outcomes to the US, supporting the argument that negotiation mechanisms are effective.

Furthermore, evidence shows that price caps on out-of-pocket expenses improve medication adherence among seniors. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that reducing out-of-pocket costs led to increased medication adherence and better health outcomes in older adults with chronic conditions. These findings substantiate the belief that policies targeting drug pricing reforms are backed by solid empirical support.

In conclusion, the "Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans Act" is based on a substantial body of evidence that supports the effectiveness of drug price negotiation and affordability measures. Implementing such policies could significantly reduce medication costs, improve health outcomes, and address health disparities, aligning policy efforts with current research and international practices.

References

• Congressional Budget Office. (2021). Reforming the Prescription Drug Market. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57384
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). Prescription Drug Costs and Coverage. https://www.kff.org
• Danzon, P. M., & Ketcham, J. (2018). The Impact of Pharmaceutical Price Regulation in Canada. Health Economics, 27(10), 1574-1587.
• Carter, M. W., et al. (2019). Effects of Out-of-Pocket Cost Sharing on Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review. Journal of Health Economics, 68, 102201.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Global Report on Access to Medicines. https://www.who.int
• US Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Policy on Prescription Drug Pricing. https://www.hhs.gov
• Sommer, J., et al. (2020). International Perspectives on Drug Price Negotiation. Global Health Research and Policy, 5, 12.
• Johnson, S., & Smith, R. (2021). Evaluating the Effects of Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Policies. Health Policy, 125(3), 388-397.
• Health Affairs Blog. (2022). Legislative Efforts to Curb Prescription Drug Prices. https://www.healthaffairs.org
• Rosenberg, E., et al. (2018). The Economics of Prescription Drug Pricing. American Journal of Managed Care, 24(8), 380-385.