Final answer:
The FDA sets the requirements for the Prescription Drug Retail Price List, ensuring consumer safety but also impacting the pharmaceutical industry and creating disparities in healthcare coverage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for setting the requirements for the Prescription Drug Retail Price List. The FDA ensures the safety and efficacy of medicines that pharmacies can sell in the United States, which may involve extensive testing of a drug before it can be sold. The winners in this regulatory system are consumers who are protected from unsafe drugs, while the losers may include companies that incur the costs and time delays associated with strict regulatory processes.
In 2003, legislation expanded Medicare to help the elderly pay for prescription drugs, representing a significant public health improvement. However, this also brought scrutiny regarding the high costs and potential inflationary impact on prescription drugs. The Medicare prescription drug benefit, with political backing from organizations such as AARP, showed a prioritization of resources for seniors over assistance for the uninsured.
Thus, while the FDA's regulations and programs like Medicare's prescription benefit aim to make prescription drugs safer and more affordable for certain populations, they may inadvertently impose challenges on pharmaceutical companies and leave gaps in coverage for other groups.