AHA, FAH report documents dramatic rise in US inpatient drug costs

Inpatient hospital drug costs increased more than 38% per admission between 2013 and 2015, according to a new report from the University of Chicago’s NORC, an independent research institution.

According to the analysis of inpatient drug pricing data from 712 community hospitals and two group purchasing organizations representing more than 1,400 community hospitals, unit price increases occurred for both low- and high-volume drugs and for both branded and generic drugs.

The report comes at a time of much criticized and publicized drug price hike at the pharmacy level, which have led to congressional investigations and hearings.