The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) releases new data showing that more than 10 million people with Medicare have received a free vaccine due to the President’s Inflation Reduction Act

More than 10 million people with Part D Medicare received a free vaccine in 2023 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, up from just 3 million in 2021.

May 4, 2024 – President Biden’s cheaper prescription drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, will help millions of seniors and families save money on healthcare costs and prescription drugs. The law required Big Pharma to finally allow Medicare to negotiate the prices of covered prescription drugs directly with participating pharmaceutical companies, cap the cost of insulin at $35 for seniors and make recommended vaccines free for people living in Be enrolled in Medicare Part D. Today, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report showing that more than 10 million people with Medicare Part D received a free vaccine in 2023 thanks to the law — an increase from just 3.4 million people who received covered vaccines in 2021.

“The President’s cheaper drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, will improve people’s lives and save them money,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Free vaccines are life-changing and life-saving for the health of millions of Americans and their pocketbooks. While the ongoing, first-ever negotiations make history, we will also have a lasting impact by lowering prescription drug prices for years to come.”

Effective January 1, 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act eliminated cost sharing for all Part D adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In 2021, 3.4 million people received vaccines under Part D, and annual out-of-pocket costs were $234 million. Compared to 2021 ASPE vaccine use data -PDFthe new data for 2023 shows a sharp increase in vaccination rates, meaning millions of dollars in lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors:

• In 2023, a total of approximately 3.9 million Medicare enrollees received a shingles vaccine, compared to approximately 2.7 million in 2021, an increase of more than 42 percent.
• Nearly 1.5 million Medicare enrollees received a Tdap vaccine in 2023, compared to approximately 700,000 enrollees in 2021, an increase of more than 112 percent.
• Additionally, RSV vaccines are new and were recommended in June 2023 for adults 60 years and older in consultation with their healthcare provider. By 2023, 6.5 million Medicare Part D participants would have free access to an RSV vaccine.

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also released draft guidance for public comment on the second cycle of negotiations under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Negotiations on the first wave of 10 prescription drugs are successfully underway, and this second cycle of negotiations will include up to 15 additional drugs selected for negotiation, expanding access to innovative, life-saving treatments for people with Medicare and Medicare and Medicare costs are reduced. taxpayers. In accordance with the law, by February 1, 2025, CMS will announce up to 15 additional drugs selected for potential 2027 negotiations. This second round of negotiations will take place over the course of 2025, and all negotiated maximum fair prices will be in effect for this second set of medicines. medicines from January 1, 2027.

“The first cycle of Medicare negotiations continues and CMS is committed to transparency and collaboration throughout the negotiation program,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “As we look ahead to additional negotiations that will expand access, promote competition and innovation, and reduce costs, we will continue to engage pharmaceutical companies and the public as we build on what we learn in the first cycle of negotiations.”

The Biden-Harris administration has made lowering prescription drug costs and increasing access to innovative therapies a top priority. Today’s draft guidelines set out the requirements and parameters for the second negotiating cycle, building on the policies set out in the revised guidelines for the first negotiating cycle.

In addition, CMS is setting forth policies that outline how manufacturers must ensure that eligible people in Medicare have access to the negotiated maximum fair prices for 2026 and 2027, including the procedures that may apply to pharmaceutical companies, Medicare Part D plans, pharmacies, mail order companies. services, and other dispensing entities that dispense medications covered by Medicare Part D. CMS will work with a Medicare Transaction Facilitator (MTF), which will serve as the infrastructure intended to facilitate the exchange of data between entities in the pharmaceutical supply chain to the eligibility of a person to whom a selected drug is provided at the negotiated maximum fair price. CMS also requests comment on options for the MTF to support optional facilitation of retroactive payments from participating pharmaceutical companies to participating dispensing entities to help achieve access to the negotiated maximum fair price for people with Medicare drug coverage recipe.

“CMS understands how important these negotiations are for all parties, and we are focused on fostering dynamic dialogue and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. Public input is critical to achieving the strongest possible implementation of this historic law, which is already reducing healthcare costs.” said CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare Meena Seshamani, MD, PhD.

To enable public input, CMS is voluntarily soliciting comments on these draft guidelines for the initial price applicability year 2027 and the manufacturer-agreed maximum fair prices in the years 2026 and 2027. The comment period is open for 60 days. Comments received by July 2, 2024 will be considered during the development of the final guidelines. As this draft second cycle guidance is being released while the first cycle of negotiations is underway, additional lessons could be incorporated into the final guidance to be published later this year.

In addition, HHS today released new resources in Chinese (Traditional), Vietnamese and Korean in advance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Inflation Reduction Act postcard explains the basics of the law and how people with Medicare can take advantage of new benefits that can lower their costs. The postcards in these languages, as well as English and Spanish, are available at LowerDrugCosts.gov.

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Draft Guidance (PDF) (May 3, 2024) – https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-drug-price-negotiation-draft-guidance-ipay-2027-and-manufacturer – effectuation-mfp-2026-2027.pdf -PDF

Fact Sheet: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Draft Guidance (PDF) (May 3, 2024) – https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-medicare-drug-price-negotiation-program-ipay-2027- en-manufacturer-effectuation-MFP-2026.pdf -PDF

For an updated timeline of the Inflation Reduction Act, visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/10522-inflation-reduction-act-timeline.pdf -PDF
Source: HHS