Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Medicare enrollees will benefit from reduced prices on 54 drugs through Medicare Part B, effective from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
The program aims to counter drug price hikes that exceed inflation, providing financial relief for over 822,000 Medicare beneficiaries who rely on these medications to treat conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, and pneumonia.
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HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized that the Biden administration's prescription drug policies are making a tangible impact on seniors and people with disabilities by reducing out-of-pocket costs.
According to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, CMS Administrator, some Medicare beneficiaries could see daily savings ranging from $1 to as much as $3,854 on drugs included in the rebate program.
For example, a cancer patient using Novartis' AGs (NYSE:NVS) Kymriah could save up to $3,000.
Brooks-LaSure also noted that the law disincentivizes drug companies from raising prices faster than inflation, which helps protect Medicare beneficiaries from sharp price increases.
The Inflation Reduction Act's initiatives extend beyond 2024. In August, the administration reached new agreements to reduce prices for ten additional high-cost drugs.
Once these prices take effect in 2026, Medicare is projected to save an estimated $6 billion, while beneficiaries could see a reduction of $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.
Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D enrollees will further benefit from a $2,000 annual cap on prescription drug costs, down from the current cap of $3,500 for those with high expenses.
According to some analysts, Novo Nordisk A/S' (NYSE:NVO) blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic might be included, along with several other well-known medications, in the next round of negotiations, which is set for 2027.
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