A discount of that magnitude might make sense for VA hospitals insofar as: i) the entire VA system is governed by a single negotiation; and ii) in contrast to Medicare, the VA is contractually entitled to the lowest drug price given to any buyer.
OK
But as a discount to what? To what the VA formerly paid? I don't think so.
Making a comparison of what the VA is paying for L to drugstore.com pricing of mL is not a fair comparison. Nor is it a fair comparison if in fact Sandoz quoted pricing to the VA that was intentionally non-competitive because of a decision to sell for higher prices to others since their capacity is constrained.
This all comes back to profit maximization in a duopoly where one competitor is production constrained.
I think in the end, the market split will look much more rational than some of the pricing comparisons that are floating around.
ij
There are times when rules and precedents cannot be broken; others when they cannot be adhered to with safety. (Thomas Joplin)