Data Watch: EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® Cost Trends in Arkansas

Price increases across the drug industry have impacted healthcare costs. Arkansas insurers have cited drug prices as a principal factor in higher premium rates for Arkansans. As states begin to consider policy levers to address this problem, more transparent data about the nature and extent of the issue will be critical. The Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), authorized through the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative, will enable characterization and a better understanding of actual expenditures associated with drug price increases and industry practices. The EpiPen® and EpiPen Jr® Cost Trends in Arkansas illustrates the potential of the APCD’s ability to quickly produce information to inform the policy dialogue.