Prescription Drug Prices:
Analysis of Canada's Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
HRD-93-51: Published: Feb 17, 1993. Publicly Released: Feb 22, 1993.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) described the purpose and structure of Canada's Patented Medicine Prices Review Board as well as its guidelines and procedures, especially those used to determine if a drug price is excessive; and (2) summarized the evidence about the effects of the Board's actions on the prices of new drugs, on price increases for existing drugs, and on pharmaceutical research and development.
GAO found that: (1) the Board is the federal body responsible for restraining prescription drug prices in Canada; (2) the Board periodically publishes guidelines that it uses to determine whether a manufacturer's introductory price on a new drug or price increase on an older patented drug is excessive; (3) the Board has the power to order the removal of market exclusivity or a price reduction if it finds a price to be excessive; (4) Canadian experience shows that a drug price review board can restrain prescription drug prices; (5) statistical analyses suggest that Canadian prices of new patented drugs subject to Board review were, on average, one-third lower than had there been no Board; and (6) restraint of drug prices reduces the incentive for manufacturers to undertake innovative pharmaceutical research and development.
Feb 24, 2021
Covid-19:
Key Insights from GAO's Oversight of the Federal Public Health ResponseGAO-21-396T: Published: Feb 24, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 24, 2021.
Feb 17, 2021
Feb 11, 2021
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Operation Warp Speed:
Accelerated COVID-19 Vaccine Development Status and Efforts to Address Manufacturing ChallengesGAO-21-319: Published: Feb 11, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 11, 2021.
Feb 5, 2021
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DOD Health Care:
DOD Should Monitor Implementation of Its Clinical Practice GuidelinesGAO-21-237: Published: Feb 5, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021. -
Medicaid:
CMS Needs to Implement Risk-Based Oversight of Puerto Rico's Procurement ProcessGAO-21-229: Published: Feb 5, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021. -
VA Health Care:
Community Living Centers Were Commonly Cited for Infection Control Deficiencies Prior to the COVID-19 PandemicGAO-21-195R: Published: Jan 6, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 5, 2021.
Jan 28, 2021
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COVID-19:
Critical Vaccine Distribution, Supply Chain, Program Integrity, and Other Challenges Require Focused Federal AttentionGAO-21-265: Published: Jan 28, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2021.
Jan 21, 2021
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Rural Hospital Closures:
Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care ServicesGAO-21-93: Published: Dec 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021. -
Health Care Funding:
Federal Obligations to and Funds Received by Certain Organizations Involved in Health-Related Services, 2016 through 2018GAO-21-188R: Published: Dec 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021.
Jan 14, 2021
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Medicaid:
Data Completeness and Accuracy Have Improved, Though Not All Standards Have Been MetGAO-21-196: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021.
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