Prescription Drug Pricing in the United States: Drug Companies Profit at the Expense of Older Americans
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Serial Number
Levin Center Identifier
OR.106.18
Document Date
1999-11-09
Report Length
17 pages
Policy Agendas Project Major Code
Policy Agendas Project Minor Code
Additional, Minority, Dissenting Views
Report Type
Found Using Methodology
Committee(s)
Subcommittee(s)
Commission(s)
Idependent Author(s)
Brief Executive Summary
The House Committee on Government Reform investigated drug price discrimination and the impact on the elderly population. They found that older Americans who pay for their own drugs are charged more than drug companies' favored customers like health maintenance organizations and the federal government. Senior citizens were found to pay twice as much for drugs, which is a price differential that is six times greater than the average for consumer goods. Lastly, the Committee found that pharmaceutical manufacturers were primarily responsible for the discriminatory practices that victimize older Americans who are least able to afford their prescriptions.