Potential Association between Drug Shortages and High-Cost Medications

Shortages and sudden price increases of certain drugs may both occur emergently, with little to no warning, and they can have a dramatic impact on patient care. Little data are available linking drug shortages and price increases. Many of the same characteristics that may make medications susceptible to shortages can also place them at risk for sudden price increases. These characteristics include unapproved drugs, off-patent sole-source medications, and infrequently used medications. We reviewed drug shortage data from the University of Utah Drug Information Service to demonstrate how frequently these characteristics occurred and resulted in higher drug prices. Clinicians can use drug shortage management principles to mitigate the impact of sudden price increases for patients and health care organizations.