Cleveland.com: Drugmakers’ copay coupons are pushing up drug prices – not curbing them | Kelly O’Reilly

High drug prices are a burden for millions of Ohioans, especially those who rely on expensive medications for their lives or their health.

While the system that produces skyrocketing drug costs can be maddeningly complex, one thing is in fact quite simple: Drug prices are set by drug manufacturers.

In some cases, drug manufacturers purport to atone for their highest-priced drugs by offering copay coupons to consumers. The consumer is spared a copay of, say, $500 for a drug that costs $3,000. If those coupons are used to satisfy that patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket spending obligations under his insurance policy, the insurance company will thenceforth pay the entire cost of the drug.