NJBIZ Op-Ed: Unintended Consequences

When it comes to prescription drug policies, New Jersey must put patients first

By Jeanette Hoffman, Patients Come First New Jersey Executive Director

It’s unfortunate that today’s health care system often prioritizes the desires of special interests over ensuring that patients have access to the advanced and innovative medical care available in our system. Ultimately, patients should have the choice of every treatment available and prescribed by their doctor. However, too many New Jerseyans have had to either overcome significant barriers to medicine or forego it. Unless it’s made clear what obstacles stand in the way, patient-friendly reforms won’t be implemented.

New Jersey’s health care system is not without bad actors. From large insurers taking advantage of programs designed to help patients get access to medicines and care, to government policies that stifle innovation and hope for those with chronic illnesses, the current system simply does not work for patients and ultimately limits consumer choice. While our policymakers correctly want to ensure our health care system is functioning appropriately and that New Jerseyans can get the care they need, some approaches may actually erect more barriers. For example, price-setting policies sound sensible, but have raised red flags among industry experts who are concerned they’d only result in fewer treatments that are available to patients.

Read full text of the op-ed here.