Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Feb. 6, 2024
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New Estimates Show Just How High U.S. Prescription Drug Prices Are
Prescription drug prices in the United States are 2.78 times those in other countries. And the gross price of insulin is more than nine times higher.
These findings come from two new RAND reports that draw on data from 2022 to examine U.S. prescription drug prices compared with prices in 33 other nations.
Here are some other key findings from our analyses:
- The price gap between the United States and other countries is especially large for brand-name drugs, with U.S. prices averaging 4.22 times those elsewhere.
- Prices for generic drugs--which account for 90 percent of prescription volume in the United States--are about 67 percent of the average cost in other countries. However, this does not fully offset higher U.S. prices for brand-name drugs.
- Although the cost differences of insulin between the United States and other countries varied depending on the country and the type of insulin, U.S. prices were always higher--often five to 10 times higher--than those in other countries.
- A third new RAND report finds that, while most new prescription drugs are sold in the United States before they reach other nations, ultimately, important medications reach most wealthy nations within about a year. (This has implications for ongoing debates about how addressing high drug costs could potentially hurt American patients' access to new treatments.)
These up-to-date estimates and insights can inform policies to help address both rising drug spending and the financial impacts of prescription drugs on consumers.
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Why Is L.A. Still Letting Homeowners Block Solutions to the Housing Crisis?
Some efforts to increase affordable housing in Los Angeles have been stymied by homeowners who fear that new housing developments will obstruct sunlight and negatively affect property values. RAND's Jason Ward, a housing expert who also owns a home in L.A., understands these concerns. But he also knows what solving the housing crisis looks like: A single parcel that previously housed one family is transformed into apartments for 15 to 25 people--reserving units for low-income households. If such an approach is blocked, then Angelenos could end up facing a permanent housing crisis, he says.
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Attributing Biological Weapons Use
Determining the source of a biological incident--whether natural, accidental, or deliberate--is difficult. But conducting such investigations is essential: The evidence collected can improve understanding of biological weapons threats, strengthen international awareness of biological risks, and inform efforts to mitigate harm caused by biological weapons. A new RAND report identifies how the Pentagon could better support U.S. investigative capabilities in this area. The authors also explore ways to strengthen international efforts to hold state and nonstate actors accountable for using biological weapons.
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** RAND Recommends
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- RAND's Caitlin Lee was interviewed on NPR's Here and Now. She discussed the proliferation of military drones and why the United States and others should try to limit access to them.
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- In Wired, RAND's Christopher Paul and other psychological operations experts addressed conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship.
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- Artificial intelligence should not be trusted with consequential decisionmaking about war and peace, RAND's Edward Geist told New Scientist. "Large language models are not a panacea for military problems," he said.
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** Events
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Reforming DoD's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Process for a Competitive Future
Thursday, February 8, 2024 (Online)
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Artificial Intelligence and Homeland Security
Thursday, February 8, 2024 (Online)
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America's Opioid Problems: How Additional Approaches Can Stem the Tide
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (Online)
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