The drug pricing lawsuit that could blow up Medicare – By Bob Herman (Axios) / July 8 2021
A federal judge will soon determine whether Pfizer can pay Medicare patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for one of its heart medications that is priced at $225,000 per year.
Why it matters: A ruling in Pfizer’s favor would legalize something that is viewed as a kickback under current law, and would jeopardize taxpayer coffers by spurring a “gold rush” of pharmaceutical companies to cover Medicare copays for expensive drugs.
- That could include Aduhelm, Biogen’s pricey Alzheimer’s treatment.
Where things stand: Pfizer sued the federal government last year, arguing rules prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from directly or indirectly funding patients’ drug copays were unconstitutional.
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