Trump and Rx Drug Prices: Let the Games Begin

By STEVEN FINDLAY President Trump is scheduled to deliver a major speech on drug prices today.  This post is intended to start a dialogue on what he says and proposes.      It’s unclear whether Trump will provide specifics or whether those will be rolled out in coming weeks.   As is always the case with Trump, there’s concern he’ll go off script despite apparent careful preparation of the speech.      The speech is reportedly going to coincide with an RFI from HHS on ways to restrain drug prices, building on ideas proposed in the administration’s fiscal 2019 budget request.   That sounds like a delay tactic, but we’ll see.     Notably, Alex Azar and Scott Gottlieb, health secretary and FDA Commissioner, respectively, have recently hinted at substantial policy proposals.  Azar, for example, has proposed shifting some of the drugs now paid for under Medicare Part B (such as chemotherapy drugs administered in doctors’ offices) to Part D, where private plans would have clout to push for lower prices.  Azar and CMS administrator Seema Verma have also suggested requiring PBMs to share the savings from drug rebates with consumers. Indeed, PBMs appear to be squarely in the administration’s sites.  Drug companies  pay rebates to insurers and PBMs to assure their drugs get on formularies, and sometimes a preferred spot on a formulary.   Up the same alley, the two officials have proposed that Medicare Part D insurers be compelled to pass along rebates to ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs