What the math. Yesterday afternoon CMS released a technical memo on the changes to True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) Costs and the maximum monthly cap for the Medicare prescription payment plan (MP3.) Simply put, they put out a memo that shows the math for the smoothing program. I need to work through some of the examples because, at first glance, I kept saying “huh.” It was the enhanced alternative plan amounts that went to TrOOP and the $2k OOP max that threw me. If reading that confuses you, don’t worry about it, you can likely skip the memo.

How do you really feel? Last week the Oregon prescription drug affordability board (PDAB) met and, before an update on upper payment limits (UPLs), the speaker just unraveled all the arguments he has against pharmaceutical companies and their thoughts on PDABs and UPLs. I mean in the moment it must have been cathartic for him, but it is hard to see how he stays in his position. I mean he really hates pharmaceutical companies and takes their concerns about PDABs personally. My hunch is he’ll be pressured to leave and, if not, we know where he stands…

Sigh. I could use a good rant about this NYT article about the GLP-1 drugs and how they are a miracle and only cost $5 to make. I get that the over $1000 list price is likely too high but there are a lot of discounts and rebates in there so their net has to be much much lower. And it is such a naïve point of view coming from a paper that should know better. It is the NYT and not someone on Twitter. How much does it cost for me to look at your newspaper online? I mean it should be free if you’re doing a print paper and have to publish that, one more user means nothing right – but it costs me $130 a year. For you, the article is free.

The Harvard Crimson wrote about how increasingly their research funding comes from biopharmaceutical companies. Some worry about the strings attached. Personally? Biopharms have the money and want to see the research out there. Do it. If your end findings aren’t what the

Stuff we’re waiting for. 340B legislation from the Senate, could be May? The “gang of 6” introduced a discussion draft in February that was due April 1 and maybe there is still momentum. Summary of the discussion draft.

Moving on. I hadn’t realized that Takeda, Pfizer and UCB had left BIO (trade group.) They are all still part of PhRMA.