As Medicare Drug Negotiation Patient Sessions Kick Off, Advocates Already Eyeing Improvements

Patient advocates see IRA patient listening sessions as an opening to push CMS to have more conversations on access issues in general, but first they want to work on improving the current process.

microphone at front of meeting room
reeMedicare will kick off 10 days of patient listening sessions on 30 October to inform its first round of drug price negotiations. • Source: Shutterstock

Patient advocacy groups are excited for Medicare’s upcoming listening sessions that will offer patients a chance to provide the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services insight into the first slate of drugs subject to US government price negotiations while acknowledging that this initial foray into patient engagement with CMS is not ideal and that they are looking for ways to improve the process in the future.

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