In the US, prescription drug costs have been a growing concern. Rising drug prices limit patient access to necessary medications, putting their health at risk. It's estimated that nearly 30% of Americans cannot take their prescribed medication because they can't afford to, all while pharmaceutical companies continue to profit [1]. This analysis will focus on identifying drugs with the highest spending increases, highlighting top-earning pharmaceutical companies, and exploring how Medicaid spending patterns have changed over time and across companies.
- Which prescription drugs have seen the highest spending increases from 2018 to 2022?
- What are the top 5 pharmaceutical companies that received the most revenue from Medicaid drug spending in 2022?
- How does the total Medicaid spending per drug (2018-2022) compare across different companies?
- Can we predict which pharmaceutical companies will see the highest total Medicaid spending in the future (2025-2026) based on past spending data?
[1] M. Diener, “Drug prices and Shortages Jeopardize Patient Access to Quality Hospital Care: AHA News,” American Hospital Association | AHA News, https://www.aha.org/news/blog/2024-05-22-drug-prices-and-shortages-jeopardize-patient-access-quality-hospital-care. (accessed Jan. 30, 2025).
[2] “Medicaid Spending by Drug,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data, https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-use-and-payments/medicare-medicaid-spending-by-drug/medicaid-spending-by-drug (accessed Feb. 2, 2025).