Pew Comments on Proposals to Modernize Medicare Drug Payments

On Jan. 25, The Pew Charitable Trusts’ drug spending research initiative submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in response to the agency’s proposals to let insurers better manage drug utilization and spending in Medicare’s Part D and Advantage programs.

Pew’s comments supported proposals to expand competition and lower prices, and offered suggestions for additional steps the agency could take to improve savings. Pew also presented an alternative to a proposed formula change that would increase Medicare spending while reducing manufacturers’ contributions to the Part D program, arguing for maximizing these contributions while decreasing beneficiary costs at the pharmacy.