Generics Could Save States Money
Increasing access to generic medicines would help states lower health care costs, which are putting pressure on state government budgets, according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA). The National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers said in December that “steadily rising health care costs” are contributing to deteriorating state fiscal conditions, and that states face numerous challenges in providing health care in Medicaid and other state programs. The GPhA noted in its own report that a 1% increase in the use of generics could save $4 billion annually off the total U.S. health care bill.