Language is now back in the Senate version of the OBBA that would undermine Medicare price negotiation for drugs with Orphan Drug Act designation. Here's our HA Forefront published yesterday (!) from Helen Mooney and @benro.me on why it is a very bad idea:
www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/f...
Great and engaging panel discussion about the future of the Inflation Reduction Act by @benro.me and Chris Cai (both from @portalresearch.org), @dusetzinas.bsky.social (Vanderbilt Health Policy), and Alyson Bancroft (@p4ad.bsky.social)!
#ARM25
New Health Affairs Forefront post on the Medicare negotiation "biologic bonus" and the massive financial hit to patients and the health care system of delaying small molecule negotiation from 9 to 13 years, led by Chris Cai and @benro.me: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
⭐Out now from Dr. Jerry Avorn— RETHINKING MEDICATIONS: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take
In his new book, Dr. Avorn explains why some of the medications we take are poorly evaluated, overpriced, or pose unwarranted risks—and how we fix that.
📖 Grab a copy today: rethinkmeds.info
WATCH: @akesselheim.bsky.social testifies before @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social
On NIH cuts - "...the next generation will look back at this moment & ask what we were doing while the Trump administration systematically disposed of 1000s of research projects that could've helped patients."
In 2024 the gross to net price bubble burst for insulin though. Likely because of a change in Medicaid rebate policy of all things.
What’s really going on: Elon watched office space last night.
Was this before or after the CEO of PhrMA wined and dined with Trump?? 😉
But seriously, nice to see that negotiating drug prices is actually a bipartisan priority.
www.statnews.com/pharmalot/20...
This is a terrible change. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that it forced the health care system toward more adoption of telehealth. Good for patients, particularly those who need lots of care but who struggle to leave home.
We’ve summarized the (main, inaqdequate) ways to get prescription drugs for cheaper — with help from @benro.me. One of ‘em might work for you.
And: you might know something we don’t. We’d love you to chime in.
As always, paywall-free.
firstaidkit.substack.com/p/how-to-may...
New from Chris Cai, @akesselheim.bsky.social and @benro.me in JAMA:
Despite having gone off patent decades ago, repurposing the antidepressant doxepin for insomnia has led to persistent high prices even though generics are available, highlighting the need for policy reform in drug repurposing.
Figure. National Trends in 30-Day Doxepin Prescriptions for Insomnia
Despite the availability of generic low-dose doxepin for insomnia, the medication remains costly and less frequently used compared to other insomnia treatments.
ja.ma/4aLCKid
#MedSky
🩺📊 #medsky
New piece led by Anushka Bhaskar @portalresearch.org in STAT First Opinion on protecting public health agencies from damaging political interference -- even the threat of which can greatly affect people's behavior: www.statnews.com/2025/01/31/p...
I see those as talking points. CMS revised the public engagement this year based on the experience last year. And I’m sure their modify it again next year as they learn more.
Seems like the Trump administration plans to push ahead with negotiating drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act! 💊🩺📊
A glimmer of positive news among a sea of mayhem this week.
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
Rescinding an executive order that directed CMMI to study models to lower drug costs isn’t the same as directing CMMI to stop implementing those models, is it?? #healthpolicy
📰 15 more drugs up for Medicare price negotiation this year. Including the blockbuster diabetes/obesity drug semaglutide!! 💊🩺📈🧪
www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
Writing in @jama.com, @rgfrank.bsky.social and I have a new piece examining the IRA's Medicare Part D redesign. We argue that the redesign deserves greater scholarly attention and discuss four key themes of interest to policymakers. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Anything Aaron writes is worth reading 👇👇
Starting tomorrow, patients with Medicare Part D coverage have a $2000 annual cap. 💊🩺📊
Happy new year!🎉🥳
Nice @nytimes.com summary of some GOOD recommendations for reforming the #FDA… from experts including from @portalresearch.org director @akesselheim.bsky.social. 🩺📊🛟
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/w...
Congratulations, Michael! Good news for Brown!
Excellent summary of what to watch for with the #FDA in the upcoming administration. 🩺📊🛟
The wrong ways and right ways to reform the FDA in the new administration - new in Health Affairs Forefront from me and Josh Sharfstein: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
🚨New @portalresearch.org paper🚨 in JAMA Health Forum.
HIGHLIGHTS:
🔵 Biosimilars made up <2% of adalimumab use in 2023.
🔵 Net prices dropped by >40%...but the Humira list price increased.
Meaning: Abbvie payed confidential rebates to maintain Humira dominance. 💊🩺📊
📜 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Complex new study in American Heart Journal from former @portalresearch.org fellow Catherine Hwang and PORTAL faculty @benro.me about primary adherence to ARNIs vs ACEI/ARBs. Bottom line: no difference but longer to fill for the more expensive ARNIs: tinyurl.com/395bjdvr
If we’re complaining about no edit function, this really feels like vintage Twitter! 🙃
Agreed and certainly 340B has ballooned out of control. I just think it’s important to remember what the policy WAS supposed to do instead of judging it against a new benchmark.
*not intended to lower costs for patients. That isn’t the actual purpose of 340B. It’s to support safety net provider organizations.
