
Health Care Management Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
3-2015
Publication Source
Health Economics
Volume
24
Issue
3
Start Page
294
Last Page
301
DOI
10.1002/hec.3021
Abstract
This paper analyzes pharmaceutical pricing between and within countries to achieve second-best static and dynamic efficiency. We distinguish countries with and without universal insurance, because insurance undermines patients' price sensitivity, potentially leading to prices above second-best efficient levels. In countries with universal insurance, if each payer unilaterally sets an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) threshold based on its citizens' willingness-to-pay for health; manufacturers price to that ICER threshold; and payers limit reimbursement to patients for whom a drug is cost-effective at that price and ICER, then the resulting price levels and use within each country and price differentials across countries are roughly consistent with second-best static and dynamic efficiency. These value-based prices are expected to differ cross-nationally with per capita income and be broadly consistent with Ramsey optimal prices. Countries without comprehensive insurance avoid its distorting effects on prices but also lack financial protection and affordability for the poor. Improving pricing efficiency in these self-pay countries includes improving regulation and consumer information about product quality and enabling firms to price discriminate within and between countries.
Keywords
differential pricing, ICER thresholds, value-based pricing
Recommended Citation
Danzon, P. M., Towse, A., & Mestre-Ferrandiz, J. (2015). Value-Based Differential Pricing: Efficient Prices for Drugs in a Global Context. Health Economics, 24 (3), 294-301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hec.3021
Date Posted: 27 November 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.