AMP is WAC (and other thoughts)
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ABOUT AMP is WAC
Average Manufacturer Price (AMP) is not equal to Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC), but it is close. And since the whole world of health policy and reimbursement is a bit WAC-y, that’s what we’re calling this update/blog part of the site. All of the opinions and thoughts presented here are our own and not the views of clients or affiliates.
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AMP is WAC — 7/18/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 7/18/25I have a case of existential dread, and yet the world keeps spinning so let’s do this… Caught my Eye More Cowbell. Late last year I put out a report on biosimilars and it called out how the Inflation Reduction Act could hurt innovation and savings for biosimilars. Here is a report from Matrix Global…
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AMP is WAC — 7/10/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 7/10/25Last Saturday I was in the customs line in Amsterdam and the agent smirked and said, “Big Beautiful Bill, huh?” I wanted to say something, but I was mostly impressed that he was following U.S. news more closely than a lot of Americans. Caught my Eye 340No. IQVIA released a study looking at the use…
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Affordable Care Act, Biosimilars, Caught my eye, Employers, Healthcare Costs, Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Utilization ManagementAMP is WAC — 6/27/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 6/27/25In case you think I’m opinionated, just know that it could be so.much.worse. I often write something and then hit backspace, backspace, backspace. You’re welcome? Off next week for the 4th of July. Caught my Eye Tradeoffs. Last week USC put out a paper that reviewed how many Medicare Part D beneficiaries will likely pay…
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AMP is WAC — 06/20/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 06/20/25All the summer Friday vibes today, including a cocktail in mind for later. I’ve been trying to top the Paper Plane and the Broken Plane is close. Any other recs, let me know. In the meantime, to-do list in hand and ready to hit the ground running. Caught my Eye Hit Us with Your Best…
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AMP is WAC — 6/13/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 6/13/25Caught my Eye Make Believe. This week we were wondering if the Administration would put out information on what the Most Favored Nation (MFN) would be for drugs; that is what is the best price for each drug in a set of country’s that have a GDP at least 60% of ours. But there have…
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AMP is WAC — 06/06/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 06/06/25I love this time of year, it feels nostalgic. All sorts of changes are going on with students graduating or changing schools with the hum of music and the whiff of sunscreen ever present in the background. Or maybe I just long for simpler times? Caught my Eye Waiting Game. This week the Department of…
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340B, Caught my eye, COVID, Drug Prices, Medicaid, Medicare Negotiation, Medicare Part D, Medicare Transaction Facilitator, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Reference Pricing, State-based Reform, VaccinesAMP is WAC — 05/30/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 05/30/25I do love a Monday off. It somehow feels like an a double-treat – you get the Monday off and the week flies by. Yes we had to cram more meetings and work into the shorter week but totally worth it. Caught my Eye Processed Over. This week the Secretary of Health and Human Services,…
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340B, Alzheimer’s, Biosimilars, Caught my eye, Drug Prices, Generics, Healthcare Costs, Importation, Medicaid, State-based ReformAMP is WAC — 05/23/25
Read more: AMP is WAC — 05/23/25It’s the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, let’s blow this pop (pup?) stand. I’m playing with the format of these posts so let me know what you think. The aim is to be more of a newsletter than a blog, but still give you everything you need to know in just a few minutes a…
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340B, Affordable Care Act, Caught my eye, CMMI, Drug Prices, Drug shortages, Employers, Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare Negotiation, Medicare Transaction Facilitator, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Preventative, Reference Pricing
Caught my eye — 5/16/25
Read more: Caught my eye — 5/16/25This week I’ve repeatedly spoken to groups about the President’s Executive Order (EO) on Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing and I feel a little vulnerable. I am often “authentic” in my explanations. I recognize that to many people I seem biased on a lot of issues but, in my defense, I find most politics maddening…
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Initial Take on MFN Executive Order, Part II
Read more: Initial Take on MFN Executive Order, Part IIInitial take at 3:30 today … which could change as I learn more… The foundational premise of the President’s new Executive Order (EO) is that the United States should pay less for drug and other countries should pay more; there should be an equalization. The Administration will take steps to work with foreign countries and…
Latest news
- AMP is WAC — 05/15/26
- AMP is WAC — 5/1/26
- AMP is WAC — 04/24/26
- AMP is WAC — 04/10/26
- AMP is WAC — 03/27/26
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