A story published Monday on the Enzyme Experts news site explained that a near doubling in projected government spending on health care was partly attributable to the increasing costs of new drugs.

And only one day later, that government forecast gained strength when a story from The Associated Press reported prices for brand-name drugs increased an average of 7.4 percent in 2007. Doctors prescribed these medications mostly to the elderly.

Medicare spending, according to Monday’s story, is expected to increase to $844 billion by 2017, an almost twofold increase from today’s numbers. That jump is being blamed on the high costs of new drugs and medical technology.

As the price of drugs continues to increase at more than double the rate of inflation, the government shields much of these costs from consumers who use Medicare drug benefits, according to The Associated Press. The story goes on to suggest that since government assistance has decreased consumer complaints about prescription costs, drug manufacturers encounter fewer roadblocks to price increases.

At the same time, drug ads are encouraging about a third of Americans to ask their doctors about prescriptions for advertised pharmaceuticals, according to a USA Today story in early March. In 44 percent of those cases, patients reported their doctors prescribed the drug about which they inquired.

For patients of all ages, safe and affordable enzyme-based nutritional supplements offer support for natural healing, health maintenance and preventive care. Enzyme supplements could also help offset skyrocketing health care expenses.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 11:16 pm and is filed under Enzymes Inc., Enzyme Supplements, Digestion, Enzymes.

Tags: government spending, drug price increase, Medicare, inflation, drug advertising