Duel over discounts: Pharma, providers at odds over 'orphan drugs'

The article reports on an effort by U.S. hospitals to push for greater discounts on orphan drugs while the pharmaceutical industry intends to boost their profits from these drugs. Factors contributing to the financial promise of orphan drugs include longer exclusivity, an expedited regulatory, and lack of low-cost alternatives to expensive medications. There are efforts by hospitals and their congressional allies to include orphan drugs in a federally mandated discount scheme.