Rx Drugs

Siding with brand-drug makers, the Commerce Department on Wednesday (April 24) said the government should clarify that high drug prices are no basis for breaking patents.

The House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee will hold a hearing Tuesday (April 30) on the cost of drugs in Medicare Part B and Part D as members prepare to take up bills to lower drug costs for seniors.

CMS proposed Tuesday (April 23) policy changes that would significantly increase Medicare pay to hospitals for administering expensive CAR-T cancer drugs and make it easier for hospitals to get the maximum possible reimbursement for administering the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) on Monday (April 22) called for the Ohio legislature to enact four policies targeting spread pricing practices by pharmacy benefit managers that would route all state drug purchases through a single PBM contract, give the state auditor unrestricted authority to review all PBM drug contracts, make PBMs fiduciaries and ban nondisclosure agreements regarding drug pricing with the state.

Medicare Trustees lowered their estimated spending projections for retail drugs in large part because rebates are bigger than they expected, and the health insurance lobby says that finding bolsters their case against HHS’ plan to eliminate rebates.

In the wake of a 35-day partial government shutdown that furloughed 41 percent of the agency’s staff earlier this year, a group of FDA policy experts sent a letter to the agency asking for more details on how much funding FDA had and from what sources; exactly how many personnel were exempted, excepted and furloughed throughout the shutdown; and how FDA is preparing for future shutdowns.

Drug discount managers, switches, pharmacy services administrative organizations, third-party vendors: Those are new types of companies that could elbow their way into the new system that would be created by drug-rebate reforms.

Congressional Medicaid advisers voted unanimously Thursday (April 11) to recommend removing the drug-rebate cap in Medicaid, a recommendation that also is backed by the Trump administration and a key House Republican, after several MACPAC members grew comfortable with removing the cap since initially expressing doubts at a March meeting.

Senate Finance Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said Wednesday (April 10) if senators cannot reach consensus on a package to lower prescription drug costs by June, such a package may not pass this year.