Trump CMS faces bipartisan pushback over Medicare proposal tied to Biden-era drug pricing law
Lawmakers say the proposed Medicare policy could make it harder for patients to access newer cancer treatments by discouraging medical innovation.
TL;DR
- Over 50 bipartisan lawmakers have urged the Trump administration not to finalize a proposed Medicare policy.
- The proposed policy is tied to the Biden-era Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Lawmakers argue the 'fixed-dose combination policy' could discourage the development of improved cancer treatments.
- They contend it would subject newer drug versions to Medicare price negotiations sooner after FDA approval, reducing incentives for innovation.
- CMS aims to prevent drugmakers from avoiding or delaying negotiated prices by making minor changes to existing drugs.
- Lawmakers believe advancements like faster cancer immunotherapies could be less likely to reach patients if the policy is finalized.
- They also argue CMS actuaries haven't shown the policy would produce meaningful savings for taxpayers.
- The lawmakers call for the withdrawal of the fixed-dose combination proposal to expand access to lifesaving care and reward medical progress.