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Supreme Court Upholds Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, Rejects Big Pharma Appeals

Supreme Court Upholds Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, Rejects Big Pharma Appeals

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from major drugmakers challenging a program requiring them to negotiate drug prices with Medicare. This decision upholds lower court rulings supporting the program, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prices for certain drugs. The program aims to reduce costs for the federal government and Medicare beneficiaries. Drugmakers argued that the program violates their rights, but courts have ruled that participation in Medicare is voluntary. The first round of negotiations is expected to save $6 billion for the government and reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors by $1.5 billion.

Supreme Court Upholds Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, Impacting Pharmaceutical Industry

Supreme Court Upholds Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, Impacting Pharmaceutical Industry

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear appeals from pharmaceutical companies challenging the federal government's authority to negotiate drug prices under Medicare. This decision leaves intact a lower court ruling that supports the negotiation program established by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The law mandates that the government negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs covered by Medicare, with the first agreements set to take effect in 2026. The program aims to reduce costs for older adults by negotiating prices for 25 prescription drugs, including popular medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Despite opposition from pharmaceutical companies, who argue that cost reductions should target insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, the program continues to move forward.

US drugs site TrumpRx to list 600 generics as Trump targets lower prices

US drugs site TrumpRx to list 600 generics as Trump targets lower prices

By Steve Holland and Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - U.S.

Supreme Court rejects appeals from drug manufacturers over Medicare price negotiations

Supreme Court rejects appeals from drug manufacturers over Medicare price negotiations

The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies that object to negotiating Medicare drug prices with the federal government

Supreme Court Orders Reconsideration of Native American Voting Rights Cases

Supreme Court Orders Reconsideration of Native American Voting Rights Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court has directed lower courts to revisit two significant voting rights cases involving Native American tribes in North Dakota and Mississippi. These cases challenge legislative maps drawn post-2020 census, arguing violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously ruled that only the federal government could enforce the law, a decision that conflicted with decades of case law. The Supreme Court's decision to send these cases back for reconsideration follows its recent rulings that have weakened the enforcement mechanisms of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, advocating for a reversal of the lower court's decisions.

What to know about Trump’s $1.7B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting

What to know about Trump’s $1.7B fund to compensate allies claiming political targeting

The Justice Department has announced a $1.7 billion compensation fund for Trump allies who believe they were wrongly prosecuted by the Biden administration

Trump Administration Plans to Repeal Biden-Era Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water

Trump Administration Plans to Repeal Biden-Era Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water

The Trump administration has announced its intention to repeal drinking water limits on four PFAS 'forever chemicals' set during the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing two separate rules to delay and rescind these limits, which were established to address the presence of PFAS compounds in drinking water. These chemicals, used to make products water-, stain-, and grease-resistant, are linked to various health issues, including cancer and birth defects. The Biden administration had set legally enforceable limits for six PFAS compounds, aiming to reduce exposure for millions of Americans. However, the Trump administration argues that the previous administration did not follow the correct legal process and that the limits would not withstand legal challenges. The proposed changes are expected to undergo a lengthy approval process and face potential court challenges.

Trump touts a major TrumpRx expansion, adding more than 600 generic drugs

Trump touts a major TrumpRx expansion, adding more than 600 generic drugs

President Donald Trump has announced an expansion of his discounted-drug website, TrumpRx

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Continued Telehealth Access to Abortion Pill Amid Legal Dispute

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Continued Telehealth Access to Abortion Pill Amid Legal Dispute

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to maintain access to the abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth services, despite a pending legal challenge. This decision overturns a previous ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had reinstated requirements for in-person dispensing of the medication. The FDA had initially relaxed these requirements during the Biden administration, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason to allow mail delivery of the drug following telehealth consultations. The Supreme Court's unsigned order allows the lawsuit to proceed in lower courts, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting. The ruling has sparked reactions from various organizations, with some expressing relief over the continued access to what they consider essential healthcare, while others voice concerns about the safety and potential misuse of the medication.

Abortion Providers Prepare for Legal Challenges Amid Mifepristone Access Uncertainty

Abortion Providers Prepare for Legal Challenges Amid Mifepristone Access Uncertainty

Abortion providers and advocates are bracing for potential disruptions in reproductive care following the U.S. Supreme Court's temporary decision to maintain nationwide access to mail-order mifepristone. This decision comes as several legal challenges, including a lawsuit from Louisiana against the FDA, seek to limit access to this abortion medication. The legal landscape remains volatile, with the FDA undergoing significant leadership changes, including the recent ousting of Commissioner Marty Makary and Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg, the acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Advocates express concern over the potential for a single state to influence national medication regulations, which could have widespread implications for the pharmaceutical industry. The ongoing legal battles are seen as a constant challenge, with providers and patients facing uncertainty and potential barriers to accessing necessary care.

In the US South, an appeals court leans farther right than the Supreme Court

In the US South, an appeals court leans farther right than the Supreme Court

By Nate Raymond May 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to preserve mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone marked the latest time that the nation's top judicial body has reined in an even more right-leaning appeals court, one nestled in the American South.

HHS Finalizes 2027 Payment Rule to Enhance ACA Implementation and Consumer Protections

HHS Finalizes 2027 Payment Rule to Enhance ACA Implementation and Consumer Protections

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has issued the 'HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027' final rule. This rule sets standards for Health Insurance Exchanges and aims to improve the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Key provisions include adjustments to payment parameters, risk adjustment programs, and user fee rates for issuers offering qualified health plans (QHPs) through Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) and State-based Exchanges on the Federal platform (SBE-FPs). The rule also addresses civil money penalties for noncompliant issuers, marketing practices, and eligibility application reviews. Additionally, it expands hardship exemption eligibility and introduces new standards for catastrophic plans. The rule aims to enhance program integrity, reduce improper enrollments, and ensure subsidies are appropriately allocated.