Price Increases for Prescription Drugs, 2016-2022

Prescription drug price increases create affordability challenges for patients and for the government. This report tracks drug price changes from 2016-2022. There were 1,216 products whose price increases during the twelve-month period from July 2021 to July 2022 exceeded the inflation rate of 8.5 percent for that time period. The average price increase for these drugs was 31.6 percent. Some drugs in 2022 increased by more than $20,000 or 500%. The Inflation Reduction Act introduces a new requirement for manufacturers to pay rebates to Medicare for Part D drugs whose price increases exceed inflation, beginning October 1, 2022, which was designed to reduce the frequency and size of drug price increases.

Related Products:

• Trends in Prescription Drug Spending, 2016-2021