Last month Congress passed the historic Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Some of the many significant pieces of this legislation are a plethora of Medicare prescription drug reforms and protections to shield people from high drug costs. This is great news, and the changes coming will help lower prescription drug costs for all people on Medicare, and especially older adults with … [Read more...] about Learn How the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Will Significantly Reduce Drug Costs
Draft Bill Provides Needed Prescription Drug Pricing Reform
In early July, the Senate Finance Committee drafted legislation to help address the burdensome, high prescription drug prices affecting Medicare beneficiaries, and aims to have it passed through the upcoming reconciliation process. This legislation would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap beneficiary out-of-pocket costs to $2,000 annually starting in 2025, and … [Read more...] about Draft Bill Provides Needed Prescription Drug Pricing Reform
CMS’ Finalized Rules Will Lower Drug Costs & Increase Consumer Protections
In late April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued finalized rules to both strengthen consumer protections in Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, and reduce out-of-pocket drug costs for beneficiaries. As summarized in CMS' recent fact sheet, this final rule revises the MA and Part D regulations related to marketing and communications; the … [Read more...] about CMS’ Finalized Rules Will Lower Drug Costs & Increase Consumer Protections
CHA Calls for Increased Consumer Protections & Oversight of Part C & D Plans
California Health Advocates worked together with Center for Medicare Advocacy to submit comments on the proposed rule for Medicare Part C and D. While we wholeheartedly support several of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS’) stated goals of the proposed rule, namely to “strengthen consumer protections to ensure MA and Part D beneficiaries have accurate and … [Read more...] about CHA Calls for Increased Consumer Protections & Oversight of Part C & D Plans
Victory in Medicare’s Coverage of “Off-Label” Prescription Drugs
Do you or someone you know take a prescription drug to help with an "off-label", or non-FDA approved, condition? This is a legal and common practice where doctors can prescribe medicines for treating less common conditions. Yet, until recently, Medicare denied coverage of these drugs. On February 11, 2022, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed … [Read more...] about Victory in Medicare’s Coverage of “Off-Label” Prescription Drugs
