Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Medicare Negotiation Will Deliver Relief To Millions
- Marking an important step in protecting Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower prices for millions of patients, a Texas federal judge dismissed the lawsuit from trade association Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in conjunction with the National Infusion Center Association and the Global Colon Cancer Association (NICA). This is one of nine lawsuits aimed at blocking the implementation of the Medicare negotiation program in order to keep drug prices high. The ruling is the third time a judge has weighed in against the drug industry’s efforts to undermine the law. This recent decision sends a strong message and comes at a time of widespread disapproval of and turmoil within the pharmaceutical industry. Despite tens of millions of dollars in lobbying efforts against the Inflation Reduction Act, patients and advocates effectively championed the passage of the Law in 2022. Additionally, a growing number of drug companies have severed ties with the trade group amid disagreement about its strategic direction. In essence, these developments underscore a dynamic shift in the landscape, from a rift within the industry itself and growing momentum for reform from patients and advocates. — (Bloomberg, Georgetown University, Axios, P4AD Now, Politico, MM+M)
2. Drug Price Reforms Drive Big Cost Savings
- Patients across the country are celebrating the relief they’re already seeing from the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act. Marianna in Minnesota wrote in a letter to the editor that the drug price law is a “legislative health care miracle” and detailed how the provisions to end cost-sharing for vaccines and the $35 monthly insulin copay cap have made a huge difference to seniors on Medicare like herself. Additionally this year, many patients who take brand-name drugs on Medicare Part D will now have their out-of-pocket drug costs capped at about $3,500. In 2025 the cap will drop to $2,000 for people on Medicare. Pam, a Michigan educator living with diabetes, reflected on her experience with high insulin prices in an op-ed: “I recently calculated that I spent $1,068 last year on insulin. And this high cost doesn’t even account for my other medical treatments and prescriptions.” Thanks to the $35 insulin copay cap for patients on Medicare, Pam will spend “Iess than half” of what she spent on her insulin in the previous year and finally have some more room to breathe when paying bills every month. We’re eagerly looking ahead for the rest of the drug price provisions to be implemented — the $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs in 2025, and in 2026, lower prices for the first 10 negotiated drugs. — (Post Bulletin, KFF, The Gander)
BONUS: Patients For Affordable Drugs Now (P4ADNow) began running a series of TV ads this week to inform constituents in Congressman Don Davis’ district (D-NC1) that he has reneged on his campaign promise to “stand up to drug companies.” Instead, Davis has become the only Democrat in the House of Representatives to sponsor a bill that would undermine Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices, a wildly popular provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that is supported by more than 80 percent of voters. (Politico, Axios, YouTube, YouTube, NC Newsline, P4ADNow, YouTube, STAT News, P4ADNow)