Ben Rome
@benro.me
580 followers 370 following 49 posts
Primary care doc, health policy researcher @portalresearch.org. Trying to make prescription drugs more affordable. 💊🩺📊
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Reposted by Ben Rome
araymakers.bsky.social
Great and engaging panel discussion about the future of the Inflation Reduction Act by @benro.me and Chris Cai (both from @portalresearch.org), @dusetzinas.bsky.social (Vanderbilt Health Policy), and Alyson Bancroft (@p4ad.bsky.social)!

#ARM25
Reposted by Ben Rome
New Health Affairs Forefront post on the Medicare negotiation "biologic bonus" and the massive financial hit to patients and the health care system of delaying small molecule negotiation from 9 to 13 years, led by Chris Cai and @benro.me: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
www.healthaffairs.org
Reposted by Ben Rome
portalresearch.org
⭐Out now from Dr. Jerry Avorn— RETHINKING MEDICATIONS: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take

In his new book, Dr. Avorn explains why some of the medications we take are poorly evaluated, overpriced, or pose unwarranted risks—and how we fix that.

📖 Grab a copy today: rethinkmeds.info
Home
Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take
rethinkmeds.info
Reposted by Ben Rome
portalresearch.org
WATCH: @akesselheim.bsky.social testifies before @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social

On NIH cuts - "...the next generation will look back at this moment & ask what we were doing while the Trump administration systematically disposed of 1000s of research projects that could've helped patients."
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Mar 2
In 2024 the gross to net price bubble burst for insulin though. Likely because of a change in Medicaid rebate policy of all things.
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Feb 23
What’s really going on: Elon watched office space last night.
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Feb 21
This is a terrible change. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that it forced the health care system toward more adoption of telehealth. Good for patients, particularly those who need lots of care but who struggle to leave home.
moreperfectunion.bsky.social
BREAKING: The Trump administration has announced that it will kill Medicare coverage of most telehealth services on April 1st.
Reposted by Ben Rome
danweissmann.bsky.social
We’ve summarized the (main, inaqdequate) ways to get prescription drugs for cheaper — with help from @benro.me. One of ‘em might work for you.

And: you might know something we don’t. We’d love you to chime in.

As always, paywall-free.

firstaidkit.substack.com/p/how-to-may...
How to (maybe) get drugs for cheaper
What we’ve learned, and how you can help us learn more
firstaidkit.substack.com
Reposted by Ben Rome
portalresearch.org
New from Chris Cai, @akesselheim.bsky.social and @benro.me in JAMA:

Despite having gone off patent decades ago, repurposing the antidepressant doxepin for insomnia has led to persistent high prices even though generics are available, highlighting the need for policy reform in drug repurposing.
jama.com
JAMA @jama.com · Feb 3
Despite the availability of generic low-dose doxepin for insomnia, the medication remains costly and less frequently used compared to other insomnia treatments.

ja.ma/4aLCKid

#MedSky
Figure. National Trends in 30-Day Doxepin Prescriptions for Insomnia
Reposted by Ben Rome
jama.com
JAMA @jama.com · Feb 3
Despite the availability of generic low-dose doxepin for insomnia, the medication remains costly and less frequently used compared to other insomnia treatments.

ja.ma/4aLCKid

#MedSky
Figure. National Trends in 30-Day Doxepin Prescriptions for Insomnia
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Jan 29
I see those as talking points. CMS revised the public engagement this year based on the experience last year. And I’m sure their modify it again next year as they learn more.
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Jan 29
Seems like the Trump administration plans to push ahead with negotiating drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act! 💊🩺📊

A glimmer of positive news among a sea of mayhem this week.

www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Jan 22
Rescinding an executive order that directed CMMI to study models to lower drug costs isn’t the same as directing CMMI to stop implementing those models, is it?? #healthpolicy
Reposted by Ben Rome
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Jan 8
Anything Aaron writes is worth reading 👇👇
aschwartz.bsky.social
It was a pleasure to write this piece for Health Affairs on risk adjustment in Medicare. Risk adjustment modifies payments to health plans or ACOs based on patient/beneficiary characteristics. Here's a very brief summary of my thoughts🧵

www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1...
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Jan 1
Starting tomorrow, patients with Medicare Part D coverage have a $2000 annual cap. 💊🩺📊

Happy new year!🎉🥳
benro.me
Ben Rome @benro.me · Dec 19
Congratulations, Michael! Good news for Brown!