Pharma Rebates: A Few Nuances You May Not Have Thought Of, With Ann Lewandowski—Summer Shorts

Exploring the Complexities of Pharma Rebates with Ann Lewandowski

In this Summer Short episode of Relentless Health Value, host Stacey Richter converses again with Ann Lewandowski about the intricate dynamics of pharmaceutical rebates, or as Lewandowski prefers, post-sale concessions. 

The discussion delves into the nuances of these rebates, the impact they have on drug costs, and the hidden consequences for patients and plan sponsors. 

They highlight articles and insights by Austin Chelko and Peter Hayes, touching on how rebates can disadvantage the pursuit of lower-cost generics and biosimilars, and can obstruct pharmacogenetic testing that ensures drug efficacy and safety. 

The conversation also critiques the opacity of rebates, deemed trade secrets by pharma and PBM companies, and underscores the ethical and financial dilemmas posed by the current rebate-driven system.

=== LINKS ===
🔗  Show Notes with all mentioned links:  
https://cc-lnk.com/EP480

✉️  Enjoy this podcast? Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter:
https://relentlesshealthvalue.com/join-the-relentless-tribe

🫙  Support the podcast with a small donation to the Tip Jar:
https://relentlesshealthvalue.com/join-the-relentless-tribe

📺  Subscribe to our YouTube channel   youtube.com/@RelentlessHealthValue" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/@RelentlessHealthValue

🎤  Listen on Apple Podcasts  apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id892082003?ls=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id892082003?ls=1

🎤  Listen on Spotify  spotify.com/show/6UjgzI7bScDrWvZEk2f46b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/6UjgzI7bScDrWvZEk2f46b

=== CONNECT WITH THE RHV TEAM ===
✭ LinkedIn   linkedin.com/company/relentless-health-value/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/company/relentless-health-value/
✭ Threads  threads.net/@relentlesshealthvalue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.threads.net/@relentlesshealthvalue/
✭ Bluesky   https://bsky.app/profile/relentleshealth.bsky.social
✭ X   https://twitter.com/relentleshealth/

07:24 What is a pharmaceutical rebate?

08:15 Why are pharma rebates so opaque?

09:52 Texas lawsuit on insulin pricing.

10:18 Why is focusing on a singular type of concession difficult with current pharma rebate structures?

10:50 EP397 with Paul Holmes.

13:55 EP353 with Pramod John, PhD.

14:29 How does pharma genomics testing affect pharma rebates?

14:52 EP465 with Chris Crawford.

15:52 EP426 with Nina Lathia, RPh, MSc, PhD.