Insurers and hospitals say the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should include in a recently-proposed rule some new requirements for pharmaceutical companies, Modern Healthcare reports. Organizations in response to the rule suggested that eliminating safe harbor for Medicare Part D […]
PBMs Testify Before Senate Finance Committee
Pharmacy benefit managers mostly dodged questions from policymakers during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, STAT reports. However, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) floated the possibility of legislative action. "Ranking member Wyden and I are committed to working on […]
Xarelto Ad with List Price Airs
Johnson & Johnson's new television ad for its blood thinner Xarelto hit the air March 29, becoming the first direct-to-consumer ad in the U.S. to feature the drug's list price, MM&M reports. The end of the advertisement includes the drug's list price ($448/month), as well as out-of-pocket […]
ICER White Paper Outlines Three Alternative Models for Pharma Rebates
A newly-released white paper by the Institute for Clinical and Economic (ICER), in partnership with the Office of Health Economics (OHE), offers a look at three potential alternative models for pharmaceutical rebates. The paper, "Value, Access, and Incentives for Innovation: Policy Perspectives on […]
Embattled Pharma Bolsters Lobbying Efforts Amid Pushback
As it continues to face widespread criticism and condemnation for high drug prices, the pharmaceutical industry is bolstering its lobbying efforts in Washington, according to a Bloomberg Government report. The political landscape, however, according to Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing spokesman […]
Sen. Durbin Slams Pharma Over Opioid Crisis
Sen. Dick Durbin during a Senate hearing on Thursday took the pharmaceutical industry to task over the ongoing opioid crisis, MedPage Today reports. Durbin pointed to a committee hearing several years ago in which it was disclosed the pharmaceutical industry sought permission to produce some 14 […]
Pharma Execs to Testify on Drug Prices Today
Representatives for seven top pharmaceutical companies are slated to testify before Congress (watch the hearing here) today on the rising cost of medicine. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. According to a Wall Street Journal report, testimony obtained during the hearing could play a […]
The 7 Pharma Execs Set to Testify Before Congress
STAT in a recent article offers a rundown of the seven pharmaceutical executives slated to testify before Congress on drug pricing. Below are the representatives who will testify:Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca; Kenneth Frazier, Merck; Olivier Brandicourt, Sanofi; Richard Gonzalez, […]
OptumRx Wants Pharma to Make Changes to Rebates
OptumRx is calling on pharmaceutical companies to deploy major changes toward rebates, according to a STAT report, but appears to be looking after its own bottom line. The pharmacy benefit manager in December sent a letter to companies demanding seven-quarters notice before lowering drug prices, […]
PBMs Defend Against Trump Administration’s Proposal
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is fighting back against claims that pharmacy benefit managers are to blame for rising drug prices, FierceHealthcare reports, and has launched a new initiative aimed at educating consumers. The campaign, #OnYourRxSide, comes on the heels of the […]
