Senate holds hearing on proposed Medicare Part B drug demonstration

The Senate Finance Committee today held a hearing on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed payment demonstration for Medicare Part B drugs. Patrick Conway, M.D., CMS acting principal deputy administrator, said the agency is reviewing comments on the proposed rule “to determine whether adjustments are needed. Our goal is to be responsive to the public comments and input from Congress while preserving the integrity and effectiveness of the model.” Committee Republicans have urged CMS to withdraw the proposal, while Democrats have said the model could reduce access to care and medications. In comments submitted last month, AHA said the model should not include hospitals, which have little control over which drugs physicians prescribe in hospital-based settings.