Rebates have come under harsh criticism and are blamed for helping to push up the list price of drugs, which consumers are increasingly responsible for paying. In January, the Trump administration proposed a similar move for government health care programs like Medicare. Any such discounts would instead have to be credited at the pharmacy counter when patients filled a prescription. The company also said the existing voluntary program, which began this year, has lowered drug costs for consumers by an average of $130 per eligible prescription. Employers and insurers have typically used rebates to lower premiums for all members, and under the Trump plan, Medicare beneficiaries’ drug-plan premiums are expected to rise slightly.

Source: New York Times March 12, 2019 16:41 UTC