CMS sets 2027 Medicare prices for 15 drugs
CMS set 2027 Medicare prices for 15 drugs, negotiating steep discounts — including a 71% cut for Novo Nordisk’s GLP‑1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus to about $274/month, 38% for Austedo and 85% for Janumet. Negotiations for this second batch concluded at the end of October and reiterate IRA selection criteria, while Novo Nordisk asked for clarity on pricing and coverage and HHS credited President Trump’s directive.
📌 Key Facts
- CMS set 2027 Medicare prices for a second batch of 15 drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Negotiations for this second batch concluded at the end of October; CMS reiterated the drug-selection criteria under the IRA.
- CMS negotiated a 71% discount for Novo Nordisk’s GLP‑1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, producing a Medicare price of $274 per month.
- Concrete discounts for other drugs include 38% for Austedo and 85% for Janumet.
- Novo Nordisk said it looks forward to CMS clarity on how pricing and coverage will work and referenced a separate Trump administration agreement to expand access in Medicare and Medicaid by BMI thresholds.
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly credited President Trump’s directive in a department press release about the negotiations.
📊 Relevant Data
The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is highest among American Indian and Alaska Native adults at 13.6%, followed by non-Hispanic Black adults.
Prevalence of diagnosed type 2 diabetes by racial/ethnic group: Asians 9.0%, African Americans 13.2%, Hispanics 12.8%, and non-Hispanic whites lower.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Prevalence and Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes — PMC (NIH)
Adult asthma prevalence: Black Non-Hispanic 10.9%, Other Race Non-Hispanic varying, with disparities across groups.
Adult Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity and State/Territory — CDC
Prostate cancer incidence is 76% higher in African American men compared to white men, with 120% higher mortality.
Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Diet, Lifestyle, and Genetic Factors — PMC (NIH)
Among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older, Black and Latino beneficiaries are most likely to experience prescription drug affordability problems.
Prescription Drug Affordability among Medicare Beneficiaries — ASPE (HHS)
Racial disparities in diabetes prevalence are associated with factors such as access to healthcare and socioeconomic status.
📰 Sources (2)
- CMS negotiated a 71% discount specifically for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, yielding a $274/month Medicare price.
- Novo Nordisk issued a statement saying it looks forward to CMS clarity on how pricing and coverage will work and referenced a separate Trump administration deal to expand access in Medicare and Medicaid by BMI thresholds.
- Concrete discount examples beyond prior reports: 38% for Austedo and 85% for Janumet.
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly credited President Trump’s directive in a press release quote.
- Negotiations for this second batch concluded at the end of October; drug-selection criteria under the IRA are reiterated.