Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Trump CMS to Withdraw Medicare Drug Policy
A group of over 50 lawmakers is pushing back against a proposed Medicare policy that they argue could hinder the development of advanced cancer treatments.
A bipartisan coalition of more than 50 members of Congress has called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to withdraw a proposed policy that could discourage the development of improved cancer therapies. In a letter dated September 21, the lawmakers urged CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz not to finalize a policy tied to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, established under the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in 2022.
At the heart of the concern is how Medicare would handle newer versions of existing drugs for price negotiation purposes. The lawmakers argue that the proposed fixed-dose combination policy, put forth by the Trump administration in June, would subject certain advancements to price negotiations almost immediately after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. This, they contend, would reduce incentives for drugmakers to invest in developing better therapies.
"If finalized, the proposed fixed-dose combination policy would subject these advancements to negotiation almost immediately after FDA approval, harming patient access as well as incentives to develop these improved therapies," the letter states. The lawmakers highlighted advancements in cancer immunotherapy, such as the shift from lengthy intravenous infusions to quick injections, which can significantly improve treatment speed and accessibility, particularly for patients in rural areas.
CMS, however, stated that the proposal aims to prevent drug manufacturers from delaying or avoiding negotiated Medicare prices by making minor modifications to existing drugs and presenting them as new products. The lawmakers countered that the FDA already scrutinizes these therapies as distinct medicines, requiring separate clinical trials and approvals, and that CMS should likewise treat them as separate entities within the drug price negotiation program.
Furthermore, the lawmakers asserted that CMS actuaries have not provided evidence that the proposed policy would yield significant savings for taxpayers. They concluded their letter by stating, "The patients we represent need policies that expand access to lifesaving care and reward medical progress and innovation in the treatment of deadly diseases."
The letter was signed by a range of representatives, including Republicans John Joyce of Pennsylvania, Darin LaHood of Illinois, Mike Kennedy of Utah, and Tim Moore of North Carolina, alongside Democrats Jim Costa of California and Donald Davis of North Carolina, among others. CMS had not immediately responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.