Lawmakers Probe Mylan’s Medicaid Loophole
Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Frank Pallone, both Democrats, are asking the company for more information about whether EpiPen was classified as a "non-innovator" drug or a brand-name drug by the Medicaid program.
Reuters:
U.S. Lawmakers Question Mylan's Medicaid EpiPen Rebates
Two key U.S. congressional committee members on Friday called for an investigation into whether Mylan NV, under fire for raising the price of its EpiPen device, overcharged the government's low-income healthcare program for the allergy treatment. In a letter to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Frank Pallone, both Democrats, seek clarification of whether EpiPen was classified as a generic, "non-innovator" drug, or a brand-name drug by the Medicaid program. (Beasley, 9/2)
The Hill:
Dems Call For Probe Into EpiPen Maker's Medicaid Charges
Two Democratic congressmen are raising questions about whether Mylan NV, the company facing backlash for raising the price of its EpiPen device, overcharged the government's Medicaid program for the allergy treatment. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) wrote a letter to the secretary of Department of Health and Human Services asking for clarification on whether EpiPen was considered a generic, "non-innovator" drug, or a brand-name drug by the Medicaid program, according to Reuters. (Hellmann, 9/3)
Bloomberg:
Mylan’s Payments To Medicaid For EpiPen Queried By Lawmakers
Two top Democratic lawmakers asked for information about how Mylan NV may have grossly underpaid rebates to a government health program for its EpiPen allergy shot for almost two decades, adding to the growing number of inquiries about the drugmaker’s pricing practices. (Edney, 9/2)
Meanwhile, the outrage surrounding the EpiPen maker has drawn attention to the FDA's backlog of generic drug applications —
Kaiser Health News:
EpiPen Controversy Fuels Concerns Over Generic Drug Approval Backlog
Consumers and Congress members pushing for cheaper alternatives to the EpiPen and other high-priced drugs are seeking answers about a stubborn backlog of generic drug applications at the Food and Drug Administration that still stretches almost four years. As of July 1, the FDA had 4,036 generic drug applications awaiting approval, and the median time it takes for the FDA to approve a generic is now 47 months, according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, or GPhA. The FDA has approved more generics the past few years, but a flood of new applications has steadily added to the demand. (Lupkin, 9/6)
