Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have been under scrutiny lately for their actions as middlemen in the flow of prescription drugs from manufacturers to patients.
The wholesale cost of Wegovy for independent pharmacies is over $1300. We usually dispense at a lose on these medications. The wholesalers are also players in this veiled system that needs scrutiny.
A month's supply of Wegovy is four pens. You left out that we are FORCED to use the PBMs or be penalized for using other pharmacies by way of higher prices. After 30 years of being screwed by all of these companies, I could write a book on this topic.
Electeds and the FTC haul these companies in front of hearings every few years (performative) and then walk away and do nothing except complain that the cost of care / medicines is too high. I don't expect anything to be done as long as Citizen's United exists and politicians can still invest in the very companies they oversee.
Semiglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, can be acquired for 1/10th that cost from a compound pharmacy. Another "supplement" manufactured by Nestle known as Zenpep, goes for $4000 for a 30 day supply and then the insurance pays 60% of that and Nestle is then kind enough to offer savings cards (as long as you aren't on a federal program like Medicare) so that your out of pocket is only $30 or so. How magnanimous after getting $20/pill from the insurance. What's Zenpep? It's "pancrelipase" a high lipase pancreatic enzyme made out of ground up hog pancreases. Alternative formulations can be had on Amazon for $30 for the same number of pills though with half the lipase. So you pay 100x more to take half as many pills. On top of that, Nestle makes a pancreatin supplement under the brand Pure Encapsulations. Guess which brand of supplements our doctor recommends after handing out samples of Zenpep and recommending the "superior" product (but they don't sell the pancreatin, just every other pill that brand makes). Yet somehow they swear that 40,00USP lipase in 2x $40 capsules is that much better than 35,500USP lipase in 4x 50¢ capsules . I think I need a new doctor.
The wholesale cost of Wegovy for independent pharmacies is over $1300. We usually dispense at a lose on these medications. The wholesalers are also players in this veiled system that needs scrutiny.
A month's supply of Wegovy is four pens. You left out that we are FORCED to use the PBMs or be penalized for using other pharmacies by way of higher prices. After 30 years of being screwed by all of these companies, I could write a book on this topic.
Electeds and the FTC haul these companies in front of hearings every few years (performative) and then walk away and do nothing except complain that the cost of care / medicines is too high. I don't expect anything to be done as long as Citizen's United exists and politicians can still invest in the very companies they oversee.
Semiglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, can be acquired for 1/10th that cost from a compound pharmacy. Another "supplement" manufactured by Nestle known as Zenpep, goes for $4000 for a 30 day supply and then the insurance pays 60% of that and Nestle is then kind enough to offer savings cards (as long as you aren't on a federal program like Medicare) so that your out of pocket is only $30 or so. How magnanimous after getting $20/pill from the insurance. What's Zenpep? It's "pancrelipase" a high lipase pancreatic enzyme made out of ground up hog pancreases. Alternative formulations can be had on Amazon for $30 for the same number of pills though with half the lipase. So you pay 100x more to take half as many pills. On top of that, Nestle makes a pancreatin supplement under the brand Pure Encapsulations. Guess which brand of supplements our doctor recommends after handing out samples of Zenpep and recommending the "superior" product (but they don't sell the pancreatin, just every other pill that brand makes). Yet somehow they swear that 40,00USP lipase in 2x $40 capsules is that much better than 35,500USP lipase in 4x 50¢ capsules . I think I need a new doctor.
And don't get me started on glucagon!
The web is riddled with people getting very sick from using compounded versions. 0/10 do not recommend.
The web is riddled with idiots claiming all kinds of things, think I'll take my advice from a medical professional thank you.
Nicely written. At least the drug dealers are honest about their intent. Pharma? Not so much.
I am Grateful to those that passed $2,000 maximum out of pocket that seniors have pay to big pharma. The donut hole is gone beginning 2025.
Think about the amount of care communities and providers can provide with big pharmaceutical budget for marketing.
I sincerely hope that if Harris is elected she has the spine to keep Lina Khan in charge at the FTC.