Podcast — Drug Pricing: How Are Payers Responding to the IRA?
Podcast: IP(DC): Drug Prices, Political Pressures & Patents
In a surprising move, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it is reconstituting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), removing...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
A few weeks ago, Regs & Eggs provided insights into Medicare Advantage (MA), the private insurance option under Medicare, and explored both short- and long-term actions that the Trump administration could take to modify MA...more
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, made changes to the way drugs are covered and reimbursed in Medicare. While some of the changes taking effect this year could save the government money, beneficiaries may...more
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly changed the popular Medicare drug programs. While an IRA policy goal is to reduce the out-of-pocket drug spending, beneficiaries may experience higher drug plan premiums and...more
At a public meeting held on January 15, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) summarized the Second Interim Staff Report (Second Report) stemming from its investigation into pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Advance Notice, proposing updates to payment policies for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs. This...more
On December 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule, which, if finalized as proposed, has potentially significant implications for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Medicare...more
On December 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Proposed Rule for revisions to the regulations governing the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, Medicare Prescription Benefit (Part D),...more
There are important new rules this year relating to prescription drug coverage which may be relevant to your Medicare plan beginning January 1, 2025. The “Open Enrollment” period this year during which eligible individuals...more
Although I previously declared January 2024 Medicare Advantage (MA) Month, this week has also been filled with news about the MA program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rate announcement...more
On April 1, 2024, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and D Payment Policies (Rate Announcement). CMS...more
Last week, McDermott+Consulting launched an election 2024 resource page, where you can find a 2024 health policy outlook and other insights into the November election. While regulations aren’t necessarily top-of-mind when...more
In 2024, Medicare will, for the first time, have authority under the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. On August 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...more
On August 29, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the ten (10) Medicare Part D drugs selected for the first round of negotiations of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (Program)—a few...more
On August 15, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued an opinion in Pharmaceutical Care Management Association v. Glen Mulready, in his official capacity as Insurance Commissioner of Oklahoma, Oklahoma...more
CMS published the Calendar Year (“CY”) 2024 Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (“Rate Announcement“) on March 31 and, five days later, issued the MA and Part D final rule for...more
On October 5, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) published Advisory Opinion 22-19 (Advisory Opinion), in which it determined that a proposed oncology drug discount arrangement could constitute grounds for the...more
OCR Public Comment on Security Practices and Civil Monetary Penalties - The Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) is seeking information from stakeholders on two aspects of the Health Information Technology for Economic and...more
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), as a whole, did not have a significant impact on pharmacy services per se. However, a complete repeal would likely impact certain areas of pharmacy services including the drug benefit for the...more
As LGBTQ rights have taken center stage in political and social issues, FordHarrison has been following ground-breaking litigation related to LGBTQ rights and providing updates. In the latest decision, a federal judge in...more
Senate Working Group Pressing Forward on Telehealth - As Congress focuses on bigger picture policy decisions, including broad budget negotiations and raising the debt ceiling, there are some exciting developments on the...more
Cuts in Mandatory Entitlement Programs Center of Budget Negotiations: As budget negotiators from both sides of the Hill come together to work out a two-year budget deal, determining how sequestration relief will be paid for...more
This Week: Congress Avoids a Government Shutdown... House and Senate Approves Measure to Expand the Affordable Care (ACA) Act Small Group Market to 100 Employees...Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurers to Receive Only...more
On September 1, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced[1] the opportunity for plan sponsors to test value-based insurance design (“VBID”) in the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) market. VBID refers to...more