Steve Quimby MD

Retired Mayo physician, author views mine.
"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question." -- Eugene Ionesco

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

Many thanks to @RelentlesHealth Podcast for informing payers & patients on navigating the bizarre and dangerous #prescriptiondrugs marketplace to aid their #drugcosts.
Listen at https://t.co/j2gGk8xqmx

[Antonio Ciaccia @A_Ciaccia]

“As AbbVie’s Humira faces copycat biologics, the biggest beneficiaries will be the middlemen negotiating and dispensing the drugs such as Cigna and CVS.” @david_wainer https://t.co/Ywtzk3fGrb

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@geraldposner @DrEricDing @VincentRK
How long will we tolerate all the savings from Humira finally going generic not flowing to patients and their healthcare system, while journalists and authorities write and muse about how much middlemen will profit?

[Madelaine Feldman @MattieRheumMD]

Yes, as we know the higher the list price the higher the "savings", which is why Optum RX preferred a $10K drug and excluded the $400 generic. The middlemen, NOT the PATIENTs, are the winners. @davidwainer2 gets it right again. https://t.co/pILcbi6594 via @WSJ

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter @DavidBalatHC

In what country can all the savings from Humira finally going generic not flow to patients and their healthcare system, while journalists and authorities write and muse about how much middlemen will profit?
The USA?

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter @DavidBalatHC

Major #HealthInsurers able to raise profit margins by merging with major #PBM s ???
Might patients and payers suffer?
https://t.co/BDPgU2hGst
Tactics:
https://t.co/AKwlvZwTAO

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@VincentRK @RelentlesHealth
@alexosh laid out the problem and solution for providers @MayoClinic in Arizona Cancer Center Ground Rounds 8/11/22.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh can tell you how often and what overcharges our present dysfunctional #PrescriptionDrug supply chain is imposing on patients and payers-including our slow to respond government

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh can tell you how often and what overcharges our present dysfunctional #PrescriptionDrug supply chain is imposing on patients and payers-including our slow to respond government

[David Balat @DavidBalatHC]

Wow! Worth a listen. @QuimbyMD nails it in this interview about the high price of generic medications

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@VincentRK @DavidBalatHC @RelentlesHealth
PBM tactics that raise #DrugPrices.
Click on-"New business models tackle soaring drug prices"-while we await government action.
https://t.co/AKwlvZfQyO

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh @costplusdrugs @VincentRK @DavidBalatHC
Clearly this degree of complexity is not needed in the Generic #PrescriptionDrugs supply chain #DrugPrices
determination.

https://t.co/Ufua9ooMQZ

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@VincentRK @DavidBalatHC @mass_marion
Well done and pretty simple!

[Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company @costplusdrugs]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...
@DGlaucomflecken

The Middlemen of Healthcare https://t.co/u7qWYXRyvX via @YouTube

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@VincentRK @alexosh @DavidBalatHC @mass_marion
#GenericDrugs offer the clearest examples of where the #PrescriptionDrugs supply chain is in need of reform.

Fundamentals of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain https://t.co/ukAmtaffaM

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh @costplusdrugs
Entire overly complex #SupplyChain, that profits non-transparent middlemen, needs overhaul or rebuilding to get #DrugPrices efficiency for end payers and patients.

https://t.co/uYoYb8diNY

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh @costplusdrugs
How does any one entity in the #GenericDrugs supply chain have real effect on end payer and patient #DrugPrices?
Fundamentals of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain https://t.co/ukAmtaffaM

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@DavidBalatHC @mass_marion

#PBM is a high margin business.

What do they do to end payer and patient #DrugCosts?
What about their #Transparency?

[David Balat @DavidBalatHC]

https://t.co/zQFa6Fusij

Understanding the calculus of how/if rebates reduce premiums will either support or dismiss this often used excuse.

#txlege @SamHarless126 @TomOliverson @DrGregBonnen @RepJamesFrank @brianeharrison @RepToniRoseTX @StephanieKlick @A_Ciaccia @MattieRheumMD

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter
There should at least be real price transparency throughout the drug supply chain, as these older generic drugs are the workhouses of medical treatment.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

Medicare should also negotiate discounts on more than a few drugs. The list should include all drugs that have been on the market for a specified number of years. Drug companies won’t like it but more seniors could afford their products and they’d still make substantial profits.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter
@Insulin is not the exception, as 25% of patients cannot afford a ever expanding # of drugs including the "low cost, most affordable #GenericDrugs.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

The Senate bill is also a huge disappointment to people with diabetes.

Almost 30% of Americans 65 and older have diabetes. Unlike the bill passed by the House, the Senate bill doesn’t include a $35 monthly insulin cap.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter
More significant reform could take place if we separated our important generic drugs from the innovation driven and attention grabbing new brand drugs (that fill only 10% of current Rxes)?
We need real price disclosure throughout the drug supply chain.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

Another needed fix: Make insurers and PBMs pass savings on to patients. Three big insurers own the three biggest PBMs. They make billions in profits EVERY MONTH.

Rewrite the bill so it won’t benefit them at seniors’ expense or discourage investments in small biotech companies.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter
Meager effort and lack of real commitment to address a growing problem that now effects even "older" generic drugs that often cost little to manufacture but reach patients at prices that growing numbers of them can not afford.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

I’ve been reviewing the Senate drug bill and am baffled why it doesn’t do more to help seniors on Medicare.

The bill will help just a small percentage of Medicare beneficiaries. But it would certainly boost insurers’ and PBMs’ profits — already a big part of the problem.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

Another needed fix: Make insurers and PBMs pass savings on to patients. Three big insurers own the three biggest PBMs. They make billions in profits EVERY MONTH.

Rewrite the bill so it won’t benefit them at seniors’ expense or discourage investments in small biotech companies.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@wendellpotter
Growing numbers of patients can not even afford the "most affordable/most accessible" generic drugs that fill 90% of our nearly 6 billion Rxes/yr.
The lack of resolve to address this is tragic!
And it has nothing to do with new drug innovation!

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

Medicare should also negotiate discounts on more than a few drugs. The list should include all drugs that have been on the market for a specified number of years. Drug companies won’t like it but more seniors could afford their products and they’d still make substantial profits.

[Steve Quimby MD @QuimbyMD]

@alexosh
Could more significant and faster disruption take place if we separated our approach of these all important generic drugs from the innovation driven and attention grabbing new brand drugs (that fill only 10% of current Rxes)?
https://t.co/Tpg1fA82nS