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
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
U.S. House of Representatives committees are scheduled to begin markups on additional portions of the budget reconciliation package on May 13, 2025. Both the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Energy...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
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
On August 15, 2024, CMS announced the results of the first round of the negotiated prices between CMS and participating drug manufacturers for the 10 selected drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug...more
On April 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Contract Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Final Rule (Final Rule), which will have significant implications for MA plans and other industry...more
Over the last year, we have seen volatility in the healthcare industry overall, and Medicare Advantage (“MA”) and Medicare Part D plans (together, “Plans”) have not been immune. Particularly because of their risk adjustment...more
On June 3rd, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a final rule that updates the program requirements for the PACE program (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a cost-effective program that...more
President Trump’s 2020 budget proposal (the Budget) released last Monday cuts the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) budget by 12% from last year. The Budget requests $87.1 billion for HHS and proposes $1,248.8...more
On April 2, 2018, CMS released the Contract Year 2019 Final Rules for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D (the MA Final Rule), incorporating changes that support CMS’ stated commitment to supporting flexibility and efficiency...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
Elections for Speaker of the House and Potential Changes at Ways and Means Committee - Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced Tuesday (Oct. 20) that he will run for the House Speaker position if the major House Republican...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 Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a long-awaited proposed rule that would drastically change the payment rates for clinical laboratory services beginning January 1, 2017 (the “Proposed...more
In Kane ex rel. U.S. v. Healthfirst, Inc., the federal district court for the Southern District of New York (District Court or Court) provided on August 3 the first and long-awaited interpretation as to when a health care...more
The Southern District of New York has spoken on one of the first issues to confront those seeking compliance with the new “60-day rule” under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and it does not bode well for defendant hospitals...more
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), signed into law on March 23, 2010, included a provision (the “Report and Refund Mandate”), broadly requiring health care providers, suppliers, Part D plans and managed...more
Last month, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a comprehensive report and data brief detailing its concerns about the ability of Medicare Part D sponsors – as...more
This Week: Senate Reauthorizes Older Americans Act; Bill Heads to the House... White House Holds 2015 Conference on Aging and Launches Several New Administration Healthy Aging Initiatives Enveloping Alzheimer’s, Dementia,...more
This Week: 21st Century Cures Legislation Passes House in Bipartisan Vote... CMS Releases Proposed CY 2016 Home Health Prospective Pay Rule... CMS Releases Final CY 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)...more
The update to the Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Work Plan includes new initiatives that may affect pharmaceutical companies and Medicare Part D payors and pharmacies. Annually, the Department of Health and Human Services...more
This Week: House E&C Releases Discussion Draft of 21st Century Cures Legislation Ahead of Legislative Hearing... FDA Finalizes Biosimilar Guidance Documents... CMS Updates Wage Index and Payment Rates for the Medicare Hospice...more
On March 6, 2015, FDA released a statement announcing its issuance of the first biosimilar license to Zarxio. In the same month, CMS issued a number of guidance documents addressing reimbursement for biosimilars under the...more