Clinicians' and seniors' views of reference-based pricing: Two sides of a coin

The government of British Columbia instituted a reference-based pricing (RBP) policy on pharmaceutical drugs to limit reimbursement costs. Only less expensive and therapeutically effective drugs and not "Cadillac" versions of chemically similar drugs would be reimbursed. The effect of the imminent implementation of this policy on seniors and clinicians (physicians, pharmacists, and various medical specialists) was explored through focus groups. Although the topic was RBP, the overwhelming majority of responses were concerned with various aspects of physician-patient interactions. Most seniors supported the RBP initiative nad viewed excessive profits for pharmaceutical corporations as wasteful. Many seniors wished to be more involved in deciding treatment possibilities and to be better informed. In contrast, the clinicians viewed the policy as interference and a restriction of their authority, preferring a more collaborative educative approach to changes in drug prescribing. Implications of these divergent views are discussed.