Posted by Michael Wonder on 06 Mar 2018
UnitedHealth will pass drug rebates directly to some consumers
6 March 2018 - Move by biggest U.S. insurer highlights broader debate over drug spending and opaque pricing system.
UnitedHealth Group's insurance arm will change how it handles some rebates it gets from drugmakers, passing them on to individuals who take the medicines amid pressure to reduce costs and bolster transparency around pharmaceuticals.
The move by the biggest U.S. insurer, which will affect only a limited slice of customers, spotlights a broader debate over spending on drugs and the industry’s opaque system of discounts and rebates. The Trump administration has suggested it might make a similar change in the Medicare program.
