Rx Drugs

The Trump administration’s proposal to let exchange plans prohibit some manufacturer drug coupons from counting towards patients’ out-of-pocket cost caps is praised by insurers and generic drug makers as a way to lower consumers’ costs and promote generics, but patient advocates and brand-drug companies say it would increase patients’ costs.

A pair of former FDA commissioners debated whether FDA should take the lead on using real-world data and real-world evidence to determine the actual value of drug therapies and in turn ensure the value translates to affordable prices.

CMS wants Part D plans to expand access to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, through reduced cost-sharing and increased co-prescribing, and the agency is encouraging Medicare Advantage plans to offer pain management options like acupuncture and massage as supplemental benefits that the agency says can be opioid alternatives.

A think tank president says HHS’ proposal to index Medicare Part B drug prices to those in foreign countries references the wrong 15 countries, and his proposal for tweaking the administration’s proposal caught the attention of Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows (R-NC).

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the new Senate Finance Committee chairman, said that HHS Secretary Alex Azar is likely using the administration’s International Price Index model for Medicare Part B to extract concessions from pharmaceutical companies after the committee’s first in a series of planned hearings on prescription drug pricing.

The Senate Finance Committee kicks off its first hearing on prescription drug pricing Tuesday (Jan. 29), but Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) already tweeted that a future topic of investigation will be abuses of the rebate system by pharmacy benefit managers -- an announcement that would typically be made by committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Lobbyists say a BioCentury report Friday (Jan. 25) that the board of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is considering a cap on drug price increases is correct, but a brand drug lobbyist said it is difficult to determine whether the board will vote to commit its members to such a pledge.

Washington state’s health care authority is in the final stages of a plan to pay a subscription for hepatitis C drugs that would cover its Medicaid beneficiaries, prisoners and state employees, including teachers, and the winner-take-all model could be extended to the commercial market and other states.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) is requesting state legislation to let its Medicaid program negotiate supplemental rebates for expensive drugs.