"In drug price hearing, Congress tries to answer some basic questions" - dateline June 2017 CNBC.
I order a brand name prescription that has no generic, that is still under patent protection, that is not an orphan drug from a large mail order pharmacy. I have been getting this same prescription for six years. The mail order firm buys direct from the manufaturer, adding their overhead and profit to the price and then is paid by (1) my direct payment and (2) payment from my drug prescription insurer.
Over the past two years (in particular) the sum of payments (from 1 and 2 above) to the mail order pharmacy has varied substantially, and inconsistently (eg. increases and decreases) from a low of \$1400 to a high of \$2600 for the same 90 day order.
To be more specific in my question, why would a manufacturer price for a drug fluctuate as I describe.
One area That I've not been able to research is if Insurances companies negotiate pricing with the manufacturer -- but if that is the significant factor -- it suggests that the negotiated pricing only holds for 90 days or so.
Any insight would be helpful.
If their is a better place to ask this question, please suggest.