In many places, this is the last weekend to hit the pool so let’s keep this short so you can get out there and get the most out of this long weekend. Just two quick stories and you’re off. DTC You Know Me. Both Lilly and Pfizer made news this week with their latest direct…
Just a quiet health policy week. Well actually, depending on your level of wonkiness, it kind of was? But let’s get into what you need to know. They’re Here! On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the “negotiated” prices for the initial ten Medicare prescription drug benefit drugs (Part D); these prices…
You know it is hot when I say, “Let’s go for a walk” and my dog looks at me from the stop of the stairs and refuses to move. At 6:30 in the morning. I hope you’re feeling more motivated than he is. Same same, not different. Late last year, the Medicare prescription drug benefit…
A relatively quiet week around these parts. I think everyone is so ASCO’d and BIO’d that policy is taking a quick breather. A PDAB will do you. The National Pharmaceutical Council put out a nice round-up comparing four prescription drug affordability boards. The chart is my favorite part – Extra, extra. Elevance Health, a health…
Just… wow. Healthcare has a lot of rabbit holes but as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, copay accumulators should be understood at a basic level. I’m not asking about alternative funding and to draw up a case study. Just that accumulators can’t be used in Medicare. Basics. Heck a simple…
Ruling It. Yesterday afternoon, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the MA/Part D final rule. Personally, most of it was not up my alley but I did read over the changes to the changes to an approved formulary sections. In December 2022, CMS proposed allowing immediate substitution of interchangeable biosimilars or branded biologics…
If you’re one of those people who is working from the couch today, I salute you. It really is the most fun day of sports. I was mocked for the way I picked my bracket (where wouId I rather live?) but I had a clean bracket until Kentucky. I blame my newfound like of bourbon.…
It was one of those rare weeks in Washington, DC where the weather was just perfect. I mean not if you suffer from allergies, but for everyone else. Same Same. Last week we had the State of the Union, this week we had the President’s Budget release. For what it is worth, the budget is…
A whirlwind of a week. I regrouped on Wednesday and got a run in and some pottery wheel time and then it all fell apart again (in a good way) on Thursday where I forgot to leave my desk for hours and hours. One of those “I love working” and forget time exists. So much…
It is rare for me to print things anymore; limited access to a giant corporate printer cuts down on the urge. But today I got the printer going, grabbed the highlighter and dug in. The paper? “Is the price right? Paying for value today to get more value tomorrow.” If I were a health policy…