Feds cut Medicare prices for 15 drugs

The 15 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation for 2027 are: Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy (Novo Nordisk, for Diabetes, CVD, obesity), Trelegy Ellipta (GSK, for Asthma, COPD), Xtandi (Astellas/Pfizer, for Prostate cancer), Pomalyst (Bristol Myer Squibb, for Kaposi sarcoma, multiple myeloma), Ibrance (Pfizer, for Breast cancer), Ofev (Boehringer Ingelheim, for Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), Linzess (AbbVie, for Chronic idiopathic constipation, IBS-C), Calquence (AstraZeneca, for CLL/SLL, Mantle cell lymphoma), Austedo/Austedo XR (Teva, for Chorea in Huntington’s disease, Tardive dyskinesia), Breo Ellipta (GSK, for Asthma, COPD), Tradjenta (Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly, for Diabetes), Xifaxan (Bausch/Salix, for Hepatic encephalopathy, IBS-D), Vraylar (AbbVie, for Bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia), Janumet/Janumet XR (Merck, for Diabetes), and Otezla (Amgen, for Oral ulcers in Behcet’s disease, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis).

CMS Announces Next 15 Drugs Selected for IRA Negotiation — Avalere Health Advisory

Among Medicare beneficiaries without any drug coverage, Black persons and Hispanics used 10 to 40 percent fewer medications, on average, than White persons.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Prescription Coverage and Medication Use — NIH

Racial disparities in medication use among Medicare beneficiaries may be correlated with economic factors, as Black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries have lower median per capita income and savings compared to White beneficiaries.

Racial and Ethnic Health Inequities and Medicare — KFF

Higher proportions of Black Medicare beneficiaries reported cost-related medical care barriers (15.5% in traditional Medicare and 15.9% in Medicare Advantage) than White beneficiaries.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cost-Related Barriers to Care Among Near-Poor Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare — The American Journal of Managed Care