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 an Audit and Enforcement Report summarizing its annual Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Prescription Drug (Part D) program audits and enforcement...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
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 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
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
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
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
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
In addition to the Part D Benefit Redesign, the IRA’s Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP) went into effect beginning January 1, 2025. The MPPP requires Part D Sponsors (PDPs) to allow Part D beneficiaries to pay for...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) 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
As government scrutiny and enforcement targeting the Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) program continued in 2024, the industry’s response to agency actions escalated. Last year also resulted in the first sizable Part D...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
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized material changes to the overpayment rules for Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D effective January 1, 2025. These changes create new ambiguity and practical challenges...more
On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year 2026 proposed rule for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”),...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
Holland & Knight Health Dose is an in-depth weekly dose of legislative and regulatory insights to keep stakeholders abreast of happenings in Washington, D.C., impacting the health sector....more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently made meaningful changes to its regulations interpreting the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) so-called “60-day Rule,” which requires Medicare providers to affirmatively...more