Non-medical switching negatively impacts patients by disrupting their care and does not generate cost savings for the patient or the insurer.
We believe that CMS must exempt diabetes testing supplies from the CBP until they can employ transparent, scientific-based methodologies for monitoring the safety of patients and ensuring adequate access to supplies.
These programs prevent people from diabetes from using a manufacturer’s copay assistance card— coupons provided to patients to cover high copays on brand name and specialty drugs — toward their annual deductible.
It’s no secret that insulin and devices are expensive. Those living with diabetes pay an additional $9,600 annually in medical costs and 12 percent of Americans with diabetes can’t afford their own prescriptions. Because of these growing costs, 1 in 4 diabetes patients rations their medication like insulin. There are policies that go beyond Medicare and Medicaid that can make treatments more affordable.
Access to medication, devices and care providers remains a major issue for patients with diabetes. Lack of access leads to more hospitalizations and less care for those who need it most. Policies that support health care provider improvements, faster diagnosis and innovations like telehealth go a long way to help diabetes patients receive the care they need.
Quality of care remains a concern for those living with diabetes. Fee-for-service insurance plans and insurance policies like non-medical switching prioritize cost over patient care. We support a number of policies that ensure a consistent and improved quality of care for patients living with diabetes.
Since the introduction of Medicare Part D in 2006, pharmacy benefit managers with insurance companies have had a carte blanche to negotiate rebates on important medications like insulin. These rebates are pocketed by the insurance company and the benefit never reaches the patient at the pharmacy counter, where they need it the most. Rebate pass-through policies bring a 0.01% increase in cost for private insurers and have little to no impact on government spending.
DLC is in support of the following legislation: DLC also supports efforts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to further investigate PBMs and their role in raising insulin pricing. See comments here.
Co-pay adjustment programs, offered by manufacturers, provide assistance directly to patients through copay assistance coupons. These coupons pass on savings that can be applied directly at the pharmacy counter or to their deductible. DLC supports these programs, which require no statutory interventions from state or federal level lawmakers.
Since the introduction of Medicare Part D in 2006, pharmacy benefit managers with insurance companies have had a carte blanche to negotiate rebates on important medications like insulin. These rebates are pocketed by the insurance company and the benefit never reaches the patient at the pharmacy counter, where they need it the most. Rebate pass-through policies bring a 0.01% increase in cost for private insurers and have little to no impact on government spending.
DLC is in support of the following legislation: DLC also supports efforts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to further investigate PBMs and their role in raising insulin pricing. See comments here.
