Which Markets (Don'T) Drive Pharmaceutical Innovation? Evidence from U.S. Medicaid Expansions
47 Pages Posted: 10 May 2021 Last revised: 26 Jan 2023
Date Written: May 2021
Abstract
Pharmaceutical innovation policy involves managing a tradeoff between high prices for new products in the short-term and stronger incentives to develop products for the future. Prior research has documented a causal relationship between market size and pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) activities. The existing literature, however, provides no evidence of how this relationship varies across markets. We investigate whether recent expansions in state Medicaid programs caused an increase in R&D. We find no evidence of a response, potentially a result of Medicaid’s low reimbursement for pharmaceuticals, suggesting low(er) price markets may have different dynamics with respect to innovation policy.
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