December 6, 2017 / Opinion

An Rx for Drug Prices: D.C. should drop the rhetoric and pass this one reform

In Newsweek op-ed, Chief Pharmacy Officer Scott Knoer calls for increased competition and expedited approval of generic/biosimilar drugs

Scott Knoer, M.S., Pharm.D., Chief Pharmacy Officer

Politicians on all sides have talked about the need for drug price reform. Yet, despite the rhetoric, not a single federal law related to drug prices has passed.

It’s time to move past the empty promises and generate tangible results, Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy Officer Scott Knoer argues in a Newsweek op-ed.

While there are many potential solutions to the drug price problem, let’s focus on just one simple approach that is proven to be effective – increase competition in the marketplace by:

  • Passing the CREATES Act, which would allow generic versions of drugs to get to market faster after the patent protection ends.
  • Speeding up the approval and use of gneric and biosimilar drugs.

Read the entire piece at Newsweek.com:  HOW TO REDUCE MEDICAL DRUG PRICES AT A STROKE

 

 

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 51,000 employees are more than 3,500 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 14,000 nurses, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic’s health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 10 regional hospitals, more than 150 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in Weston, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2016, there were 7.1 million outpatient visits, 161,674 hospital admissions and 207,610 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.