Trump Administration's Direct-to-Consumer Drug Platform Leaves Many Patients Wondering If Lower Prices Will Actually Stick.
The Trump administration's latest attempt to lower prescription drug costs has finally launched: the direct-to-consumer platform known as TrumpRx. With 43 drugs now available on the portal, including some high-profile obesity medications at discounted prices, many are hailing it as a major step forward in tackling a long-standing industry problem. However, experts say that the impact of these channels may be limited - at least initially.
For those without insurance, or with high deductibles, purchasing medications directly through TrumpRx could potentially save them hundreds of dollars a month on their prescriptions. But for many others, especially those with smaller deductibles, going through their insurance might still be the more cost-effective option. According to health policy professor Joey Mattingly at the University of Utah's College of Pharmacy, consumers will need to do some research and consider their individual circumstances in order to make the most of this new platform.
While some medications are now available on TrumpRx at significant discounts - with prices ranging from 33% to 93% lower than list prices - others may not be as appealing due to higher prices or already being available at comparable rates through pharmacies. For instance, Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy were listed as costing $299 a month and $149 a month respectively on the portal. However, some experts caution that these prices might still be out of reach for many patients.
The growth of direct-to-consumer channels may also have unintended consequences, such as insurers potentially allowing cash payments to count towards deductibles or making it less necessary for them to cover certain medications. Mariana Socal, associate professor of health policy at Johns Hopkins University, notes that this could lead to a shift in how the industry operates.
In particular, obesity drugs are proving popular through Novo Nordisk's self-pay channel and Eli Lilly's platform, but other medicines may not generate the same level of interest - especially if they have cheaper generic alternatives. As Evan Seigerman, senior pharmaceutical analyst at BMO Capital Markets, puts it: "I don't think people are as excited to pay for blood thinners out of pocket."
The Trump administration's latest attempt to lower prescription drug costs has finally launched: the direct-to-consumer platform known as TrumpRx. With 43 drugs now available on the portal, including some high-profile obesity medications at discounted prices, many are hailing it as a major step forward in tackling a long-standing industry problem. However, experts say that the impact of these channels may be limited - at least initially.
For those without insurance, or with high deductibles, purchasing medications directly through TrumpRx could potentially save them hundreds of dollars a month on their prescriptions. But for many others, especially those with smaller deductibles, going through their insurance might still be the more cost-effective option. According to health policy professor Joey Mattingly at the University of Utah's College of Pharmacy, consumers will need to do some research and consider their individual circumstances in order to make the most of this new platform.
While some medications are now available on TrumpRx at significant discounts - with prices ranging from 33% to 93% lower than list prices - others may not be as appealing due to higher prices or already being available at comparable rates through pharmacies. For instance, Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy were listed as costing $299 a month and $149 a month respectively on the portal. However, some experts caution that these prices might still be out of reach for many patients.
The growth of direct-to-consumer channels may also have unintended consequences, such as insurers potentially allowing cash payments to count towards deductibles or making it less necessary for them to cover certain medications. Mariana Socal, associate professor of health policy at Johns Hopkins University, notes that this could lead to a shift in how the industry operates.
In particular, obesity drugs are proving popular through Novo Nordisk's self-pay channel and Eli Lilly's platform, but other medicines may not generate the same level of interest - especially if they have cheaper generic alternatives. As Evan Seigerman, senior pharmaceutical analyst at BMO Capital Markets, puts it: "I don't think people are as excited to pay for blood thinners out of pocket."
. THEY'RE OFFERING 43 DRUGS AT DISCOUNTED PRICES WHICH COULD HELP SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH BUT LIKE EVAN SAID, NOT EVERYONE WILL BE EXCITED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ESPECIALLY FOR MEDITATIONS AND THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY CHEAP. I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THIS PLATFORM AND IF IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN LOWERING COSTS 
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. and have you seen the prices of some meds on trumprx? 93% off list price? that sounds too good to be true... maybe it's just a marketing gimmick 
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. But I'm not sure if it's going to make a huge impact on prices for everyone, especially those with smaller deductibles or insurance. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over time... maybe we'll start seeing more generic options become popular and prices come down even further 
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. It sounds like we're creating a two-tier system where those without insurance or high deductibles can score some sweet deals, but for others, it might be more cost-effective to go through their insurance 
I think we need to see some real data on how this platform is affecting medication costs in the long run before we can say it's a success 
. also, even if prices are lower on the portal, some ppl might still be paying more cuz their insurance wont cover it 
. gotta do the math & research before making a switch 
and I'm only commenting now because I couldn't sleep thinking about the prices on TrumpRx lol. So yeah, it's cool that they're offering some discounted meds but like what's going to happen when these discounts expire or get removed? And isn't it weird that some meds are cheaper on the platform than at pharmacies in my area? I'm from the US and I just don't think this is a magic solution for affordable meds...
. and what's up with all these generic alternatives, anyway? if there's already a cheaper option available, why bother paying full price for the brand name version?
. BESIDES, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO PAVE A NEW ROAD FOR PATIENTS TO PAY FOR THEIR MEDS OUT OF POCKET 
. BUT IS IT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING DEEP DOWN? I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE 
! TrumpRx is a step in the right direction, but we gotta be real about it being accessible to everyone 
. And what about those generic alternatives? Shouldn't we be prioritizing them too? #PharmaReform #MedicationAffordability #DirectToConsumer
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and now trump has a platform that might help? but at the same time, i know some ppl will still have to pay more through their insurance 
. I mean, $299 a month for Zepbound? That's like, totally unaffordable for me 
. But if I can get it for $149 through Novo Nordisk's platform, that's like, a total win 
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. But overall, I think this is a great step in the right direction 
. Let's keep pushing for lower costs and more affordable meds! 