Medicare should continue to pay average sales price plus 6% for most separately payable Part B drugs, but cap ASP inflation, AHA told the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in comments submitted today. 

At its January meeting, MedPAC discussed modifying the ASP add-on payment to the lesser of 6%, 3% plus $24, or $220 per drug per day; and using reference pricing to address high prices and price growth for new and existing drugs with therapeutic alternatives. AHA expressed concern that both proposals would shift responsibility for rapid growth in drug prices from drug makers to hospitals and patients.

Among other comments, AHA recommended Medicare permanently extend certain telehealth flexibilities used to expand access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic and reconsider certain other policy options that run contrary to what these permanent extensions would accomplish.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
This April through June under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will reduce the coinsurance amount for 41 Part B prescription drugs from 20% to somewhere…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expects to launch a voluntary primary care model in January 2025 for low-revenue accountable care…
Headline
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission March 15 released its March report to Congress, which includes its recent recommendations for hospital and other…
Blog
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) today released its annual March Report advising Congress on the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payment…
Headline
The House March 6 voted 339-85 to pass a package of six appropriations bills that would fund certain federal agencies through fiscal year 2024 and contains…
Headline
AHA Feb. 26 submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule establishing appeals rights for Medicare beneficiaries…