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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on Wednesday that 27 drugs had large price hikes like the rheumatoid-arthritis treatment Humira from AbbVie. These drug companies will all face price-increase penalties from the government. The money taken back will go into the hospital Medicare Trust Fund, which is facing a shortfall.
Millions of seniors on Medicare can get up to eight free coronavirus home tests each month from pharmacies at more than a dozen national and regional chain retailers. This has been a long time coming but I will certainly keep my eyes peeled to see if these show up on the shelves. Locations which are now committed, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Food Lion, Giant, Hannaford, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, Kroger Family, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens and Walmart.
Drugmakers and patient advocacy groups are pushing back against a federal proposal to cut off most Medicare payments for a new drug from Biogen Inc. to treat Alzheimer’s, called Aduhelm. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last month proposed to limit coverage of the drug to patients enrolled in clinical trials which are sanctioned by the agency. The proposal would apply to similar drugs still in development and not yet approved that work by reducing amyloid protein in the brain. The high cost of the drug and questions over its efficacy are behind the decision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The AARP Foundation and other advocates agreed to amend a lawsuit against CMS after the agency which regulates nursing facilities, agreed to reinstate the ability to levy steep finds to hold nursing homes accountable for the health and safety of residents. Previously, nursing homes could be fined only once per violation. Under the new rules, the CMS can levy fines on a facility for every day they are or were in violation of the rules (Source AARP Bulletin, November 2021 Issue, page 4).
President Biden is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would allocate $450 billion over 10 years to enable Medicaid recipients to choose to be cared for at home or in the community rather than be placed in a residential facility. Family caregivers would receive a tax credit of $5,000 per year. Let’s hope it passes!