News|Articles|December 26, 2025

Top 5 articles about drug and healthcare costs in 2025

Author(s)MHE Staff
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Key Takeaways

  • New drug prices increased by 51% over three years, often exceeding value benchmarks, potentially costing the healthcare system $1.5 billion.
  • Providers worry about medication stocking due to Part B price negotiations, potentially impacting patient care.
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Medicare price negotiations, higher costs driven by cancer and GLP-1 drugs and Medicare’s pilot program for obesity drugs are some of the biggest trends this year that will continue to impact managed care in 2026.

ICER analysis finds net prices of new drugs rose 51% over three years

An analysis has found that most new drugs approved over a three-year period were priced above value benchmarks, potentially costing the healthcare system $1.5 billion.

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Survey: Part B price negotiation could have significant impact on providers

Providers also have concerns about being able to stock certain medications, which would have a negative impact on their patients, according to an Avalere Health survey.

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Employers: Cancer, GLP-1 drugs and mental health driving healthcare costs

A survey finds that nearly a quarter of all employer healthcare spending (24%) went to pharmacy expenses in 2024, and employers forecast an 11% to 12% increase in pharmacy costs heading into 2026.

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Who will pay for Trump program to have Medicare cover GLP-1s for obesity?

A pilot program limiting the patient co-pay to $50 could burden Part D plans, depending on whether manufacturers discount their prices — and by how much.

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Health plans negotiate different prices for the same procedures

An analysis of 11 inpatient and outpatient procedures, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare had huge variations in rates across the country, across states, and even at the same facility for the same procedures.

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