Specialty Pharmacies Show Lower Drug Costs Compared to Other Sites of Care

New research from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) shows the cost of medication, when administered in a hospital or physician’s office, was much higher than if that same medication was purchased directly by the patient through a specialty pharmacy. 

Some specific findings from the research include:

• Costs per single treatment for drugs administered in hospitals were an average of $8,200 more than those for the same drug purchased through specialty pharmacies.
• Drugs administered in physician offices were an average of $1,500 higher than for the same drugs purchased through specialty pharmacies.
• Hospitals, on average, charged 118% more for the same drugs, compared to specialty pharmacies.
• Physician offices, on average, charged 23% more for the same drugs, compared to specialty pharmacies.

For more information related to this research, please visit https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/new-research-details-prescription-drug-pricing-pain-for-patients-as-average-hospital-prices-are-8-200-higher-than-specialty-pharmacies-per-single-treatment.