In Brief: Medicare drug coverage

Executive Summary

Medicare drug coverage: Oral anti-nausea drugs will be covered by Medicare "for use immediately before, at, or within 48 hours" of cancer chemotherapy under a House/Senate conference agreement passed by the House July 30 and the Senate July 31. The conferees "expect the oral forms of the anti-emetics will result in substantial cost savings to Medicare" relative to I.V. versions, according to report language. The agreement deletes House provisions setting a per dose payment level equal to 90% of the average per dose payment basis for the equivalent I.V. anti-emetic...