Health Affairs · 2001 · 88 citations · 8 references
PharmacyPharmaceutical PolicyPharmacoeconomicsPharmaceutical RegulationPharmaceutical TechnologyResource Utilization AnalysisPharmaceutical EconomicsPharmaceutical FinancingPharmaceutical MarketingPharmacy UtilizationPrescription Drug CoverageDrug Cost AnalysisDrug Spending AnalysisPharmaceutical Cost AnalysisPharmaceutical InvestmentPharmaceutical Market CompetitionPharmaceutical MarketsPharmacy Resource UtilizationPrescription Drug Costs
Growth in utilization rather than price, particularly since 1994, has been the primary driver of increased pharmaceutical spending. In this paper I focus on four factors that have increased utilization, even as cost containment efforts have flourished: (1) "the importance of being unimportant"; (2) increased third-party prescription drug coverage; (3) the introduction of successful new products; and (4) aggressive technology transfer and marketing efforts by pharmaceutical firms. I also consider the roles that these four factors are likely to play in the future.
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