Specialty drugs to spark next round of cost increases

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Growth in health care spending has actually slowed in the last few years, according to a study by CVS/Caremark. In fact, in 2010 it grew more slowly than it had in over 50 years. “Analysts attribute this slow growth to the recession — people continue to tighten their belts and focus on ‘necessities’ even as the economy slowly recovers,” says the study, “Insights 2012.” Money concerns might be causing people to not get care. “While the number of people with insurance has declined over the last few years, even the insured are going to the doctor less frequently.”

Costs are expected to surge in 2014. For one thing, eventually people will have to get needed care. For another: “While the future of the ACA’s individual mandate is uncertain, many provisions of the [Affordable Care Act] have already been enacted and embraced. These parts of the act would probably be difficult to reverse.”

The authors expect that utilization will remain flat through this year, but will pick up in 2013. “Specialty pharmaceuticals will continue to be the primary driver of prescription [cost increases] for the next several years,” the study states.

Meanwhile, “the specialty market is growing and is likely to become a larger share of every payer’s budget during each coming year. Management techniques of yesterday and today will need to be improved … to manage the … challenges posed by the uniqueness of the specialty market.”

In 2010, three specialty drugs were among the top-10 selling drugs. In 2016, specialty drugs are expected to be 7 of the top 10.

Highest-cost drug mix to change

orange = specialty

Expenditure for 10 largest drug categories 2010–2016

All amounts in billions

Source: “Insights 2012: Advancing the Science of Pharmacy Care,” CVS/Caremark