Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Administration Faces Pushback On Drug Plan Pilot Program
The Hill: Drug Plan Hit With Backlash
The Obama administration’s aggressive move to rein in the cost of prescription drugs in Medicare has triggered a backlash, with some advocates warning the plan goes too far. The administration is pursuing a pilot program that could squeeze the margins for doctors that prescribe high-cost drugs, potentially saving the government billions of dollars in the process. ... But the proposal is facing mounting opposition from groups that represent people with some of the costliest conditions to treat, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. “I think they are shocked by the pushback,” said the head of one advocacy group that recently met with the CMS. “They didn’t anticipate what was going to happen and now they are really backing up now going, ‘What do we do about this?’” (Ferris, 4/11)
The Washington Post's Wonkblog: This Controversial Rule Could Change How Doctors Profit From Using The Most Expensive Drugs
A controversial effort by the Obama administration to reform how doctors earn money from administering injection drugs would reduce their earnings on the most expensive drugs while making many older generics more lucrative, according to a new analysis. A high-stakes debate exploded last month over the administration's drug payment pilot program, which would test a fundamental change in how doctors are reimbursed for giving chemotherapy and other injectable drugs through Medicare. (Johnson, 4/11)
