Rise in Generic Drug Utilization Unable to Contain Overall Cost Increase for More Expensive Branded Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug spending among branded specialty and patent-protected drugs continues to outpace generic drugs at $79.5 billion, according to an update to last year’s study of medical claims by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). At more than $100 billion, prescription drugs represent more than 20 percent of overall healthcare spending for Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) commercially insured members, which is critical to understanding overall healthcare costs. ... |