No Need for More Regulation: Payors and Their Role in Balancing the Cost and Safety Considerations of Off-Label Prescriptions

In 2009, health care expenditures in the United States totaled $2.5 trillion and accounted for almost eighteen percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Rising health care costs are an increasing concern in the national health care industry and in government policy reform. When estimates...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of law & medicine 2011-06, Vol.37 (2-3), p.422-443
Main Author: Todd, Amy E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Consumer Product Safety - legislation & jurisprudence
Costs
Drug use
Drugs
Duty of care (Law)
Enforcement
FDA approval
Government Regulation
Health care costs
Health care expenditures
Health care policy
Humans
Insurance, Health
Laws, regulations and rules
Medical care, Cost of
Medical malpractice
Medicine
Off label prescribing
Off-Label Use - legislation & jurisprudence
Patient safety
Prescribing
Prescription drugs
Prescriptions (Drugs)
Public safety
Regulation
United States
United States Food and Drug Administration
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Summary:In 2009, health care expenditures in the United States totaled $2.5 trillion and accounted for almost eighteen percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Rising health care costs are an increasing concern in the national health care industry and in government policy reform. When estimates show that thirty percent of health care is unnecessary, improving quality and efficiency of health care could eliminate a significant amount of excessive spending. Prescription drugs contributed to ten percent of national health expenditures in 2009, comprising about $250 billion. And while the rate of growth for overall health care spending declined as a result of the recent recession, “the number of prescription drugs dispensed rebounded to prerecession rate of growth.” Estimates show that off-label drug use comprises between twenty and sixty percent of U.S. prescriptions. This could be a troubling percentage considering that off-label use carries an increased risk of harm or ineffectiveness.
ISSN:0098-8588
2375-835X
DOI:10.1177/009885881103700209