HHS Announces Medicare Price Talks for 15 Drugs

1.5 minute read

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has selected 15 more drugs to Medicare Part D price negotiations. Drug companies have until February 28 to join, with talks extending through 2025. The first round for 10 drugs concluded last August.

The Inflation Reduction Act enables the government to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers to enhance access to expensive brand-name drugs. Here are the 15 drugs chosen for the second cycle of Medicare Part D negotiations:

• Ozempic/Rybelsus/Wegovy (Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, weight loss)
• Trelegy Ellipta (COPD, asthma)
• Xtandi (prostate cancer)
• Pomalyst (multiple myeloma, Kaposi sarcoma)
• Ibrance (breast cancer)
• Ofev (idiopathiis pulmonary fibrosis)
• Linzess (IBS, chronic idiopathic constipation)
• Calquence (mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma)
• Austedo/Austedo XR (chorea in Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia)
• Breo Ellipta (COPD, asthma)
• Tradjenta (Type 2 diabetes)
• Xifaxan (preventing hepatic encephalopathy, IBS)
• Vraylar (bipolar I disorder, schizophrenia)
• Janumet/Janumet XR (Type 2 Diabetes)
• Otezla (oral ulcers, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis)

Between November 2023 and October 2024, about 5.3 million people with Medicare Part D coverage used these drugs to treat various conditions.

What’s Next

The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program aims to reduce costs for seniors and save taxpayers money, with new prices starting January 1, 2026. Drug manufacturers must confirm participation by February 28, 2025. Medicare will add up to 15 more drugs in 2028 and 20 each year thereafter. Employers should continue to monitor healthcare trends and costs. Download the bulletin for more details.