BETTER MEDICARE ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON CMS PROPOSAL TO EXPAND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ABILITY TO LOWER DRUG COSTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) President and CEO Allyson Y. Schwartz released the following statement in response to a proposed rule by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to authorize Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Part D plans more tools to negotiate lower drugs:

“We are pleased to see the Administration allow Medicare Advantage greater flexibility to negotiate the price of prescription drugs on behalf of Medicare patients. The proposed changes will enhance the ability of Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans to ensure that beneficiaries have access to clinically effective drugs at lower costs.

“The proposal from CMS provides MA-PD plans with greater flexibility to negotiate discounts for prescription drugs in protected therapeutic classes, such as antidepressants and antiretrovirals. This will result in lower costs for beneficiaries who need these drugs, while maintaining current consumer protections.

“With premiums for Medicare Advantage set to decline in 2019, Medicare Advantage leads the way on achieving better health outcomes at affordable cost for seniors and people with disabilities.

“We will continue to evaluate the details of the proposed rule and will submit comments on potential impact on Medicare Advantage during the comment period.”

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