Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS And Regeneron Strike Deal That Limits Price On Anti-Covid Drug
Stat: In New Regeneron Deal For Covid Drug, White House Imposes Price Limits For First Time
A groundbreaking clause in a new deal between the Department of Health and Human Services and the pharmaceutical company Regeneron marks the first time the Biden administration has directly used its leverage to challenge drugmakers’ list prices, experts told STAT. The contract between Regeneron and the government requires that the list price for a future monoclonal antibody drug to prevent Covid-19 is the same or lower in the United States as in other high-income countries. The release doesn’t explain which countries the government will be comparing prices with, or how pricing data will be determined. (Cohrs, 9/13)
More on drug prices —
Axios: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Court Battles Could Play Into 2024 Election
The legal challenges to President Biden's drug price negotiation law could be on a collision course with the 2024 election. Should the Medicare negotiation program survive its first courtroom showdown tomorrow, analysts say drug companies challenging the law could still have several chances to stop the program before next year's election — which could undercut Biden's ability to campaign on his victory over Big Pharma. (Owens, 9/14)
CBS News: Proposed $35 Price Cap On Insulin Heads To Gov. Gavin Newsom's Desk
A proposal by a Bay Area lawmaker that would cap the cost of insulin to $35 is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk after being unanimously approved by state legislators. Senate Bill 90 by State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) passed the Assembly with a 63-0 vote and the State Senate on a 39-0 vote. The measure would ban co-pays over $35 for a 30-day supply of insulin and prohibit health plans from imposing a deductible on insulin prescriptions. (9/13)
Stat: John Green Calls On Cepheid To Lower The Price Of Its TB Test
John Green, a novelist and high-profile YouTuber, is once again leveraging his star power in the global fight to end tuberculosis. His latest target? The diagnostics company Cepheid and the price of its tuberculosis test, GeneXpert. (Lawrence and Silverman, 9/14)
On the high cost of health care —
Axios: Blues Data Shows Price Hikes For Common Medical Procedures
Colonoscopies can cost up to nearly 60% more when performed in a hospital compared to an ambulatory surgery center, according to a new analysis from a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association subsidiary. The report draws on claims data for 133 million Blues members from 2017 through 2022 and underscores insurers' arguments for site-neutral policies that pay the same for some services, regardless of the setting. (Reed, 9/14)
KFF Health News: As More Patients Email Doctors, Health Systems Start Charging Fees
Meg Bakewell, who has cancer and cancer-related heart disease, sometimes emails her primary care physician, oncologist, and cardiologist asking them for medical advice when she experiences urgent symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath. But she was a little surprised when, for the first time, she got a bill — a $13 copay — for an emailed consultation she had with her primary care doctor at University of Michigan Health. The health system had begun charging in 2020 for “e-visits” through its MyChart portal. Even though her out-of-pocket cost on the $37 charge was small, now she’s worried about how much she’ll have to pay for future e-visits, which help her decide whether she needs to see one of her doctors in person. Her standard copay for an office visit is $25. (Meyer, 9/14)
On cancer drug prices and shortages —
Stat: Hospitals Consider Fixing Cancer Drug Shortages On Their Own
A nonprofit formed by hospitals to deal with drug shortages is considering a move into chemotherapies. Frustrated by drug shortages and the price spikes that typically ensue, executives from large hospital systems launched the nonprofit Civica Rx to deal with the problem in September 2018. Months later, the publicly traded group purchasing organization Premier created a subsidiary, ProvideGx, with the same aim. (Wilkerson, 9/14)
Stat: What To Make Of Biden’s Latest Efforts On Cancer Research
The next chapter of President Biden’s moonshot to end cancer has landed. While the new goals are inspiring hope among cancer researchers, not everyone is impressed. (Owermohle and Chen, 9/13)
