Podcast — Drug Pricing: How Are Payers Responding to the IRA?
Podcast: IP(DC): Drug Prices, Political Pressures & Patents
The health care regulatory space realized significant regulatory and enforcement developments in 2024 that are influencing how providers and industry stakeholders approach various compliance measures and enforcement...more
Last week, the contract year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D final reg entered the clearance process at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As mentioned in a previous Regs & Eggs blog post, OMB’s review is...more
During the first weeks of the second Trump Administration, a number of executive orders and other actions have been implemented, with some having potential implications for employee benefits. Executive Orders can, and do,...more
On January 23, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected a challenge to Advisory Opinion 22-19 (the “Advisory Opinion”) issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services,...more
On January 23, 2025, in Pharmaceutical Coalition for Patient Access v. United States, the Fourth Circuit held that a proposed patient assistance program, which would help cancer patients afford certain oncology drugs, would...more
As detailed in our previous updates, the IRA’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (the Negotiation Program or Program), which enables the federal government to negotiate prices for some of the costliest Medicare Part D...more
Last year was a pivotal year for the pharmaceutical industry. Under the IRA’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (the Negotiation Program), the US government negotiated the prices of 10 selected high-expenditure,...more
Mintz’s Pharmacy Benefits and PBM Contracting Practice is pleased to present the ‘Fourth Edition: Q1 2025’ of our Mintz IRA Update, a regular publication that delves into developments of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022...more
In addition to the Part D Benefit Redesign, the IRA’s Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP) went into effect beginning January 1, 2025. The MPPP requires Part D Sponsors (PDPs) to allow Part D beneficiaries to pay for...more
A few weeks ago, Regs & Eggs provided insights into Medicare Advantage (MA), the private insurance option under Medicare, and explored both short- and long-term actions that the Trump administration could take to modify MA...more
Drug manufacturers remain steadfast in their efforts to challenge the constitutionality of the Inflation Reduction Act’s mandatory price negotiation provisions. Recently filed suits contend that CMS has impermissibly expanded...more
Each year, employers that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals through a group health plan must complete a two-step process regarding the prescription drug coverage they offer to active...more
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, made changes to the way drugs are covered and reimbursed in Medicare. While some of the changes taking effect this year could save the government money, beneficiaries may...more
March 1 brings two annual deadlines for employers that sponsor a group health plan for their employees....more
Pfizer Settles Its Subsidiary’s Kickback Allegations for Nearly $60 Million - Pfizer Inc. agreed to pay over $59,746,277 to resolve allegations that its wholly owned subsidiary, Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company...more
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly changed the popular Medicare drug programs. While an IRA policy goal is to reduce the out-of-pocket drug spending, beneficiaries may experience higher drug plan premiums and...more
At a public meeting held on January 15, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) summarized the Second Interim Staff Report (Second Report) stemming from its investigation into pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their...more
As government scrutiny and enforcement targeting the Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) program continued in 2024, the industry’s response to agency actions escalated. Last year also resulted in the first sizable Part D...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Advance Notice, proposing updates to payment policies for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs. This...more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
Closing out 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule entitled “Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized material changes to the overpayment rules for Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D effective January 1, 2025. These changes create new ambiguity and practical challenges...more
On December 4, 2024, OIG issued its fall 2024 Semiannual Report to Congress (the Report), which provides a comprehensive overview of the agency’s work completed during the reporting period of April 1, 2024, through September...more
As summarized in our prior article on this topic, individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs) are gaining popularity and constituting a larger part of the overall employer-provided health coverage market. ...more
On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year 2026 proposed rule for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (“Part D”),...more