The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) has established a Task Force on Drug Pricing and Transparency, citing the largest increase in drug prices in more than a decade. The issues they plan to address are summarized in a Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology article published online July 13.
The authors highlight:
- Causes of dermatology drug price increases, including industry mergers, restricted supply, shadow pricing, high medical liability and formulary tiering structures that prioritize cost.
- Potential solutions, such as the FDA’s ability to speed the approval of generics and allow foreign imports during drug shortages, in addition to legislative and regulatory actions that boost access to medication.
- A table outlining the major points of the AADA’s Position Statement on Patient Access to Affordable Treatments, including its stance on transparency, restrictive formularies and caps on out-of-pocket costs.
The authors call on their fellow AAD members to contact their legislators to advocate on behalf of their patients’ best interests.