drugs Archives - Lown Institute

August 16, 2024

Should patients care about 340B?

340B is more than a big pile of money. The program is a band-aid covering up huge problems with our health system that can no longer be ignored. The 340B drug discount program is a hugely important policy issue for hospitals and drug companies, but the most of the rest of us have never heard of it or barely understand it. Why is pharma and the hospital industry getting so worked up about 340B, and how does any of this matter? Here’s what you need to know about a growing policy battle… More

Low-value Care

August 8, 2024

Medication overload: How to avoid harm from too many meds

Five years after the Lown Institute’s report on medication overload was published, this issue continues to be relevant in American health care. What are the harms of medication overload, how can you avoid it, and what policy changes do we need? More

Accountability

September 11, 2023

Medicare drug price negotiations: The first drug list is here!

The list of ten drugs for Medicare price negotiation has been published! What do we know about these Medicare "blockbusters"? And how are drugmakers taking the news? More

Low-value Care

August 21, 2023

Defining “better”: A look at the new Alzheimer’s drugs

Unlike its predecessor drug aducanumab, lecanemab actually showed a statistically significant difference in slowing cognitive decline in its clinical trial. But can the drug improve patients’ quality of life? More

Low-value Care

April 25, 2023

When it comes to prescription drugs, are we getting what we pay for?

Two recent analyses of expensive medications indicate that many drugs are being priced above their actual clinical benefit. More

Health Equity

March 20, 2023

The slippery slope of the mifepristone and the FDA

An ongoing lawsuit focusing on the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone could open the door to drug regulatory chaos. More

Accountability

March 2, 2023

After decades of profiteering, insulin manufacturer finally cuts the price

Insulin manufacturer Eli Lilly announced that it would be cutting the list price of its generic insulin products significantly. This move comes after decades of advocacy work by patients and clinicians alike, including our sister organization the Right Care Alliance. What does this tell us about the drug pricing landscape? More

Accountability

January 20, 2023

A tale of two drugs: Accountability and evidence in Alzheimer’s treatments

An investigation of one Alzheimer's Disease drug and the approval of another offer lessons on accountability and evidence for new drug approvals. More

Accountability

November 28, 2022

Power to the People: How a single tweet could reignite a movement

With $8 and 9 words, one internet troll is forcing insulin manufacturers to answer the question of why the drug is so unaffordable More

Accountability

November 8, 2022

1.3 million Americans forced to ration insulin, new study estimates

Skipping doses, intentionally undermedicating, not eating - these are all measures 1.3 million Americans are forced to take to keep their insulin costs down. More

Human Connection

October 24, 2022

Balancing hope and uncertainty: The controversy behind the new ALS drug

The reasoning behind this decision has to do with a complex bioethical question - if there is the potential to treat a previously untreatable disease with a new pharmaceutical, but the consequences are unknown, do you prescribe the drug? Is the unknown enough to deny patients hope? More

Accountability

August 15, 2022

A win for Medicare patients and their wallets

The Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap insulin costs...but only for Medicare enrollees. More

Accountability

July 18, 2022

Hospitals were making progress on antibiotic stewardship…then COVID-19 arrived

Deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections were decreasing, until COVID-19 happened. How does this reflect our pill-for-every-ill culture? More

Low-value Care

May 23, 2022

The Cerebral scandal brings ADHD overprescription into the spotlight

A telehealth company's downfall sheds light on the overprescription of stimulants to ADHD patients More

Low-value Care

March 18, 2022

How mental health apps can accelerate the psychiatric prescribing cascade

Mental health apps designed to improve access to care may be driving overdiagnosis and overmedication, a recent investigation finds. More

Low-value Care

February 5, 2022

When meds taken “as prescribed” still cause harm

A group of advocates has been sounding the alarm about the risk of side effects from benzodiazepines, even when taken as directed. An upcoming documentary tells their stories. More

Low-value Care

January 23, 2022

How electronic tools can help deprescribe in the hospital

The Medsafer study shows how clinical decision tools can help doctors deprescribe more in the hospital. More

Health Equity

October 31, 2021

How we achieve equal access to pharmaceutical treatment

Research shows that people of color are more likely to experience underuse of needed medications. How do we achieve equity in access to affordable, high-quality medications? More

Low-value Care

October 25, 2021

Why are dentists still overprescribing opioids?

Despite the known risks, dentists still prescribe too many opioids to young adults and teens. How can we reverse this pattern? More

Low-value Care

October 14, 2021

Stop taking aspirin for primary prevention, task force says

Does an aspirin a day keep the doctor away? It used to be the conventional wisdom that taking low-dose aspirin helped prevent a first heart attack or stroke. However, the evidence isn't there to back up this practice. More

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Issue

Tag

Should patients care about 340B?

Medication overload: How to avoid harm from too many meds

Medicare drug price negotiations: The first drug list is here!

Defining “better”: A look at the new Alzheimer’s drugs

When it comes to prescription drugs, are we getting what we pay for?

The slippery slope of the mifepristone and the FDA

After decades of profiteering, insulin manufacturer finally cuts the price

A tale of two drugs: Accountability and evidence in Alzheimer’s treatments

Power to the People: How a single tweet could reignite a movement

1.3 million Americans forced to ration insulin, new study estimates

Balancing hope and uncertainty: The controversy behind the new ALS drug

A win for Medicare patients and their wallets

Hospitals were making progress on antibiotic stewardship…then COVID-19 arrived

The Cerebral scandal brings ADHD overprescription into the spotlight

How mental health apps can accelerate the psychiatric prescribing cascade

When meds taken “as prescribed” still cause harm

How electronic tools can help deprescribe in the hospital

How we achieve equal access to pharmaceutical treatment

Why are dentists still overprescribing opioids?

Stop taking aspirin for primary prevention, task force says