The role of PBMs, patents, and public health in drug pricing

This is Part 1 of “Behind the Counter,” an in-depth video series demystifying the complex world of patents and drug pricing.

Prescription drug costs are remarkably higher in the United States than in other countries, so it’s no surprise that more than half of U.S. adults say they are worried about being able to afford their medications. These high costs have led many people to skip doses, take less than the prescribed amount, delay filling prescriptions, and even go without treatment altogether.

But why are prices so high in the first place? And why is it so hard to rein them in?

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