Overview The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a report entitled “Comparison of U.S. and International Prices for Top Medicare Part B Drugs by Total Expenditures.” The report comes as the Trump administration continues to implement its “American Patients [...] Read More
This afternoon, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule related to drug pricing transparency as part of the administration’s continuing effort to combat high drug prices. Comments on the proposed regulation are due on December 17, 2018. While the rule cites elements of the Social Security Act as the source […]
Read MoreIn the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 the Congressional Budget Office underestimated – by $4 billion – the amount Medicare would save due to changes in Medicare Part D. Instead of saving $7.7 billion, Medicare will actually save $11.8 billion. The savings come from an increase in the government mandated discount that drug manufacturers must offer enrollees [...] Read More
This morning, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held the first congressional hearing on President Donald Trump's plan to combat high drug prices, "American Patients First." The hearing featured testimony from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar as well as questions from Committee members. Senators on both sides [...] Read More
The Trump Administration has introduced a slate of proposals designed to lower the prices of prescription drugs, mainly those paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, including both physician-administered drugs in Part B and the prescription drug benefit offered in Part D. Many of the proposals are focused on reducing beneficiary out-of-pocket costs rather than lowering […]
Read MoreOn February 9, 2018, the Council of Economic Advisers released a report looking at drug pricing proposals entitled “Reforming Biopharmaceutical Pricing at Home and Abroad.” The report highlights two goals: reducing the price that Americans pay for biopharmaceutical products and raising innovation incentives as a way to reduce the overall price of health in the […]
Read MoreOn November 29, 2017, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a courtesy hearing to consider the nomination of Alex Azar as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Azar has been nominated to replace Tom Price, who resigned as Secretary in late September of this year. […]
Read MoreOn October 17, 2017, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee held its second hearing in a series of three to discuss the cost of prescription drugs, titled “The Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Pay, Part II.” The hearings stem from a bipartisan request from Senators […]
Read MoreThis morning, The Hill hosted an event, sponsored by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs, entitled, “The Prescription Drug Delivery System: Tackling Costs, Ensuring Access.” The event featured headliners Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), Representative Gene Green (D-TX), and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. Other speakers included representatives from trade organizations, manufacturers, and […]
Read MoreOn July 18, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a public meeting entitled, “The Hatch-Waxman Amendments: Ensuring a Balance Between Innovation and Access.” The meeting was a public opportunity for interested stakeholders to provide the FDA with information and policy recommendations about how to encourage competition while also maintaining access. Much of the […]
Read More