Podcast — Drug Pricing: How Are Payers Responding to the IRA?
Podcast: IP(DC): Drug Prices, Political Pressures & Patents
On July 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule. The proposed rule includes a provision that would increase the reduction in...more
On July 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Audit and Enforcement Report summarizing its annual Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Prescription Drug (Part D) program audits and enforcement...more
Our Drug Pricing and Market Access team tracks recent developments in healthcare reform, the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, the 340B Program, Medicare, and state law....more
Some commentators are expecting that further details regarding the so-called most favored nation (MFN) pricing policy will be released in the coming days, while other sources indicate that no further information beyond a...more
As discussed in last week’s Regs & Eggs blog post, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released additional budget documents to support the department’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 discretionary request....more
Over the past few years, Congress has attempted to pass “federal PBM reform.” Members of Congress have held numerous hearings related to PBMs and introduced numerous bills seeking to regulate PBMs (we regularly track these...more
On May 12, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued draft guidance for initial price applicability year (IPAY) 2028 of the Drug Price Negotiation Program (DPNP) established by the Inflation Reduction...more
In April 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued multiple pieces of guidance related to Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, including the Final CY 2026 Part D...more
In April, CMS finalized its Contract Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule (Final Rule). With CMS releasing the 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule in December under the Biden Administration,...more
In April 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued multiple pieces of guidance related to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, including the Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions....more
Several April releases seem to signal some basis for optimism for stakeholders in Medicare Advantage and Part D, though with sufficient undertones to recommend caution....more
On April 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published the Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes Final Rule which amends the regulations governing various Medicare programs, including the...more
On April 4, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year (“CY”) 2026 final rule for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”),...more
Key points include access to medicines in medicare is reduced as the IRA is implemented; fewer drugs are covered on Medicare Part D formularies in 2025 relative to 2024; medicines for serious conditions with high unmet needs...more
Attorneys from Ropes & Gray attended the Medicarians Conference from March 31 to April 2, a premier event for Medicare Advantage (MA) and other health insurance brokers, agents, and distribution arms, as well as regional and...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on April 4, 2025, the final rule for contract year (CY) 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit...more
Two recent announcements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offer early indicators as to how the Trump administration, including CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, may approach the Medicare Advantage (MA)...more
This past week, the Trump administration put its first major stamp on the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two final regulatory documents related to MA: - The...more
Health care providers and payers have been subject to a flurry of developments at the federal level in recent weeks. Considering that health care represents almost 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product, this was perhaps...more
Looking Ahead: House to Vote on Compromise Budget Resolution On the heels of the U.S. Senate's passage of a compromise budget resolution, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider the budget resolution on the...more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
Evaluating current formulary access for the 25 drugs selected for Drug Price Negotiation in Medicare Part D shows several selected drugs have higher co-pays in 2025 relative to 2024 - Introduction - The Inflation Reduction...more
Key Takeaways - - CMS is expected to issue the 2026 final rate notice for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans by April 7, 2025. - The January 2025 advance notice proposed policies that would increase payments to MA...more
The health care regulatory space realized significant regulatory and enforcement developments in 2024 that are influencing how providers and industry stakeholders approach various compliance measures and enforcement...more
Last week, the contract year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D final reg entered the clearance process at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As mentioned in a previous Regs & Eggs blog post, OMB’s review is...more