Last month, the Biden Administration rescinded proposed Part D changes by the former administration that would’ve restricted people’s access to important categories of drugs, such as antidepressants and immunosuppressants. The Trump Administration made these changes on January 19, one day before Biden’s inauguration.
The proposed changes pertained to Part D demonstration rules which would’ve allowed participating plans to eliminate important beneficiary protections and reduce the number of drugs they cover, including “protected classes” such as: antidepressants, immunosuppressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and antiretrovirals. These six classes have been protected because of the significant, and at times life-threatening, individual health and public health consequences of having a break/disruption in these medications. Therefore, plans have been required to cover virtually all the medications in these six classes. The proposal also would’ve reduced the number of required drugs in all other categories by 50%, from a required two drugs to one.
California Health Advocates strongly supports the Biden Administration’s action to nix these proposed changes, a decision that upholds patients’ health and wellbeing as a priority.
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