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Post by mannmade on Jun 13, 2019 11:51:40 GMT -5
In answer to some of the above issues why not just promote and expand the coupon program or the DTC program?
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Post by sportsrancho on Jun 13, 2019 14:13:29 GMT -5
Another sidenote is that you do not have to have the breath test, the doctor can write you a prescription without, its just like you can write it to kids..it’s off label.
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Post by agedhippie on Jun 13, 2019 16:35:32 GMT -5
In answer to some of the above issues why not just promote and expand the coupon program or the DTC program? This is the way to do it. Otherwise when you stop providing free insulin suddenly the headlines switch from Mannkind are the heros to Mannkind stole my insulin. The cases you are talking about are people you depend on insulin to survive. If you simply give them a free sample you are not going to gain a lot of goodwill because they are painfully aware that in a few days they are going to be right back to where they started. Promoting the coupon and Eagle Pharmacy deals is the way to go. |
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Post by falconquest on Jun 13, 2019 17:22:50 GMT -5
Your idea is great! In a perfect world, it would be greater if MNKD was able to do this for the simple fact that no one should have to die because they cannot afford insulin. It does not have anything to do with Socialism. However, it is not a perfect world and as one person stated, "people will bring flowers to your funeral, but won't bring you a bowl of soup when you're sick." However, if you can spend $9 million dollars upward for a commercial that really bombed; why not come to the rescue of these people in Minnesota. Why not put together a program to help disadvantaged people get a valuable product? Why not save lives and limbs? I can tell you why MNKD should do this....it's called publicity. It provides free effective advertising. So for all of you who feel that helping the poor is a crime, look at it this way. It's simply an effective marketing scheme, that's humanitarian in nature and everyone sleeps well at night as the SP soars. Wow, someone who "gets it"! I get so tired of people screaming "socialism" at everything. That's a cop out but I don't want to get political. Perhaps the simple answer is to facilitate getting Mike together with the Governor and figuring out how they can work together. Hmmm, people working together for a common good now that's not socialism is it? Helping each other sounds like one of those Christian principles upon which the country was founded...........but I digress. |
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Post by peppy on Jun 13, 2019 18:25:05 GMT -5
I was just thinking, as always a dangerous thing, but up here in MN everyone is pissed about people dying because they can't afford insulin , EVEN THE GOVERNOR! OK, I have seen a number of articles where groups of parents caravan up to Canada to get insulin and it is getting a bit of coverage, OK, I know this is a cost/availability issue but couldn't this be a great Knight on a White Horse issue if Mankind rode in and helped save the day by getting our product to those in need in MN? The Gov would probably get in the act, the foundation created to remember the student who died due to lack of insulin would prob jump in and all the families who didn't need to go to Canada...... Boom! Can't pay for publicity and Exposure like this. Even if we gave out samples as 'emergency' measures......just sayin' My $.02 and that may be what it is worth but maybe worth a look Minn, we are so close to Canada. Canada healthcare system negotiates their prices, like Europe. Here in the USA, my understanding is, Medicare negotiates prices. The private health insurance business does not negotiate prices..... instead and in addition private health insurance take/demand rebates from the pharmaceutical industry to get on their formularies for earnings per share revenue. When was the last time you were in Canada? |
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Post by rtmd on Jun 13, 2019 18:48:02 GMT -5
Could always go to Mexico: www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47491964 "The human cost of insulin in America" "A six-month supply of insulin set her back $100, a lot lower than the $1,300 cost if purchased through her insurance." To be fair, the article is a little misleading since it focuses on humalog and novolog prices.. Humulin R can be bought over the counter for about 35-40 dollars a vial. |
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Post by sportsrancho on Jun 13, 2019 19:20:29 GMT -5
I know I’ve told the story before but Al told my girlfriend (his daughter-in-law )
that she should go get Retin-A in Mexico because it’s nine dollars a tube there, it was $150 here with a prescription. It was prescribed for acne but Al knew many years before it caught on that it got rid of wrinkles ..so Jackie has gone to Mexico and used a little dab of Retin-A on her face every night for the last 20 years with great results I might add:-)
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Post by boca1girl on Jun 13, 2019 19:31:17 GMT -5
I grew up in Michigan, another state that boarders Canada. When I was young people went there to buy beer and cigarettes because the taxes were much lower and the exchange rate was favorable. Now people go there to buy prescription drugs. The people of Minnesota aren’t the only ones needing affordable insulin.
Can Mike visit Michigan also?
How about NY, Vermont, Wisconsin, etc?
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Post by rtmd on Jun 13, 2019 21:57:14 GMT -5
I wonder to what extent the high prices we pay in the US subsidize the low prices seen abroad.
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Post by minnlearner on Jun 14, 2019 7:13:03 GMT -5
"Email your idea to Castagna or It’s wasted.
Same goes for all good ideas discussed here.
Whatever happens on PB stays on PB."
Really? I was under the impression they monitored these boards. Wow, I guess I am mistaken.
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Post by sportsrancho on Jun 14, 2019 7:34:07 GMT -5
"Email your idea to Castagna or It’s wasted. Same goes for all good ideas discussed here. Whatever happens on PB stays on PB." Really? I was under the impression they monitored these boards. Wow, I guess I am mistaken. Nope you’re not mistaken, personally I don’t know what everybody else is smoking:-) |
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Post by minnlearner on Jun 14, 2019 9:43:16 GMT -5
Thank you and I ALWAYS enjoy your posts!
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Post by me on Jun 14, 2019 13:47:08 GMT -5
I wonder to what extent the high prices we pay in the US subsidize the low prices seen abroad. High prices in the US don't really subsidize low prices abroad. Prices are lower abroad because those nations are paying for their drugs without any rebates or "manufacturer revenue" loaded into the prices. The pharmas receive (practically) the same net dollar amounts whether sold in the US or abroad...it's the PBMs that lose out. As an example, claim costs for Tecfidera for our group clients might run $6500 to $7500 monthly for the US-dispensed drug, but will be $3300 to $4000 for the Canada-dispensed drug (the manufacturer and packaging, with the exception of the addition of French language to the Canada-dispensed drug, are identical). The pharma sees generally the same net cost under either scenario, but there are no rebates or "manufacturer revenue" paid to PBMs or other entities.
I've said it before, if you want to substantially reduce our drug costs here in America, then (i) eliminate rebates and other pharma "incentives" paid for formulary placement, (ii) ban drug advertising in all but industry and medical journals (if the public doesn't have the requisite ability to write its own scripts, it doesn't have the education/knowledge to make recommendations to its physicians), (iii) eliminate patent extensions for repurposing, reformulating or creating a "new" combination drug that results from the addition of a single, previously patented chemical, (iv) ban the payments to generic manufacturers for not manufacturing generics when brands first come off patent, (v) encourage employers to adopt coinsurance-only Rx benefit plan designs and (vi) publish the wholesale acquisition costs of all drugs.
It's just too bad that our legislators aren't in DC to solve problems, but rather are there only to get re-elected.
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Post by mnkdfann on Jun 14, 2019 14:00:03 GMT -5
I wonder to what extent the high prices we pay in the US subsidize the low prices seen abroad. High prices in the US don't really subsidize low prices abroad. Prices are lower abroad because those nations are paying for their drugs without any rebates or "manufacturer revenue" loaded into the prices. The pharmas receive (practically) the same net dollar amounts whether sold in the US or abroad...it's the PBMs that lose out. As an example, claim costs for Tecfidera for our group clients might run $6500 to $7500 monthly for the US-dispensed drug, but will be $3300 to $4000 for the Canada-dispensed drug (the manufacturer and packaging, with the exception of the addition of French language to the Canada-dispensed drug, are identical). The pharma sees generally the same net cost under either scenario, but there are no rebates or "manufacturer revenue" paid to PBMs or other entities.
I've said it before, if you want to substantially reduce our drug costs here in America, then (i) eliminate rebates and other pharma "incentives" paid for formulary placement, (ii) ban drug advertising in all but industry and medical journals (if the public doesn't have the requisite ability to write its own scripts, it doesn't have the education/knowledge to make recommendations to its physicians), (iii) eliminate patent extensions for repurposing, reformulating or creating a "new" combination drug that results from the addition of a single, previously patented chemical, (iv) ban the payments to generic manufacturers for not manufacturing generics when brands first come off patent, (v) encourage employers to adopt coinsurance-only Rx benefit plan designs and (vi) publish the wholesale acquisition costs of all drugs.
It's just too bad that our legislators aren't in DC to solve problems, but rather are there only to get re-elected.
I agree with most of what you say, but I'm not sure your numerical example is always the case. U.S. drugmakers set their own prices, in most other countries the prices are set (or capped) for them. Safe drugs that are high cost with limited benefit and with cheaper alternatives already available on the market (very often) won't be approved in other nations, whereas they may be approved and sold for a high price in the U.S. So, in at least some situations, drugmakers will make more on a drug in the U.S. than they can in other markets. |
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Post by mnkdfann on Jun 14, 2019 14:02:10 GMT -5
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