Introduction
The federal government has choosen the first 10 drugs subject to “negotiation” under Medicare in compliance with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Interested readers can find a refresher of the likely harmful effects of the IRA’s drug pricing provisions, prominent among them reduced access to critical therapies for seniors and stifled health care innovation, in this series of insights.
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The Daily Dish
Setting the Record Straight
The campaign of misinformation regarding the drug provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) continues apace. A typical effort was published in The New York Times under the headline “The 4 Arguments You Will Hear Against Drug Price Negotiation.” Let’s consider them in turn.…
Weekly Checkup
Gross Price Controls and Net Effects
On Tuesday morning, the Biden Administration released the list of the first 10 Part D drugs subject to “negotiation” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is a big deal, so let’s talk about it. A bit…
The Daily Dish
Just Exactly What Are We Supposed to Celebrate?
The White House is throwing a celebration of the health provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) today on the occasion of having picked the first 10 drugs for its “negotiation” regime. It’s a fine idea, except for three things.…
Insight
The Special Pharmaceutical Relationship: A UK-U.S. Deep Dive on Setting the Best Price
Director of Health Care Policy Laura Hobbs analyzes the potential consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug-price negotiations and the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.
The Daily Dish
The IRA After One Year
Today is the first anniversary of the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and, as outlined in The Hill, the administration has a problem: “‘The Inflation Reduction Act — I wish I hadn’t called it that, because it has…
Insight
The Inflation Reduction Act and Prescription Drug Plans: Incentives and Potential Responses
Executive Summary As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its sweeping changes to Medicare Part D, stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans will face substantial new costs for both seniors’ catastrophic drug expenses and…
Insight
Inflation Reduction Act: UK Case Study of Drug Pricing Limitations
Executive Summary The Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) mandate that drug manufacturers pay a certain price concession (rebate) may have the unintended consequence of driving some manufacturers out of the market—a real possibility in the United Kingdom—potentially reducing access to medicines…
Research
The 10-percent Solution: Who Gets IRA Drug Price Savings?
Executive Summary The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is advertised as substantially reducing drug costs for a wide swath of Medicare beneficiaries. This study finds that at present under 6 million beneficiaries – less than 10 percent – will benefit at…
Weekly Checkup
It’s Not a Negotiation When They Have a Cudgel
The reports of Build Back Better’s death have been greatly exaggerated; it turns out it just needed a quick name change (it’s been rebranded as the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA). Last week, President Biden was gifted a badly needed…
Insight
The Inflation Reduction Act’s Health Care Provisions
Executive Summary The Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included several health care provisions that will: Extend American Rescue Plan Act subsidies for the Affordable Care Act exchanges for another three years. Fundamentally shift how Medicare pays for drugs with price…
The Daily Dish
The Inflation Reduction Act
It is never safe to vacation when Congress is in session; you never know when an IRA will rear its ugly head. No, not the Irish Republican Army, nor an Individual Retirement Account. Instead, Senator Manchin and Majority Leader Schumer…
Testimony
Testimony on: The Build Back Better Act’s Prescription Drug Policies and their Potential Impacts
United States Senate, Committee on Finance * The views expressed here are my own and not those of the American Action Forum. I thank Christopher Holt, Tara O’Neill Hayes, and Margaret Barnhorst for their assistance. Introduction Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member…
