Sen. Grassley asks Duke and UNC about drug mark ups

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter on Friday to Duke, UNC and Carolina’s Health Care systems (in Charlotte) inquiring about oncology drug mark ups given their participation in a federal program to reduce the cost of drugs to providers according to the Raleigh News and Observer. The letter was apparently triggered by a story in the N and O about oncology drug mark ups by not for profit hospitals and health systems in the State. Sen. Grassley has long been interested in these issues.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to Duke, and the one sent to UNC.

This relates to the ongoing discussion of market aggregation of health care providers in the triangle, in the State, and the nation. A few past thoughts here and here.

*Full Disclosure: I am an employee of Duke University. I have no role in the functioning of the health care system in either a policy or administrative manner. I am teaching a class in the Health Sector Management Program during second Fall Semester session II this year. My wife is a nurse at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, an affiliate hospital of UNC Health Care.