People on Medicare may in 2026 see prices drop for 10 medicines, including pricey diabetes, cancer, blood clot, and arthritis treatments, if advocates for federal drug-price negotiations can implement their plans amid tough opposition.
The Biden administration on Tuesday revealed the first 10 drugs selected for direct Medicare price negotiations in accordance with a process mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
It’s unclear at this time, though, how these negotiations will play out. The US Chamber of Commerce has sided with pharmaceutical companies in bids to block direct Medicare negotiation of drug prices. Many influential Republicans in Congress oppose this plan, which has deep support from both Democrats and AARP.
While facing strong opposition to negotiations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sought in its Tuesday announcement to illustrate the high costs of the selected medicines.