Hep C, Specialty Medicines Contribute To 13 Percent Jump In Drug Spending

A new study blames pricey hepatitis C drugs and new cancer drugs for the roughly 13 percent increase in spending on medicine in 2014. The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics study said 2014 drug spending was almost $380 million, up 13 percent from 2013 spending -- "the highest level since 2001 when growth was 17 percent." The pharmaceutical lobby said the drug spending hike is to be expected considering the large gain in health insurance coverage and the record number...