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Review
. 2023 Jun;25(6):577-581.
doi: 10.1007/s11886-023-01878-7. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

The Inflation Reduction Act: How Will Medicare Negotiating Drug Prices Impact Patients with Heart Disease?

Micah Johnson  1 , Sanjay Kishore  2   3 , Rahul K Nayak  4 , Stacie B Dusetzina  5
Affiliations
Review

The Inflation Reduction Act: How Will Medicare Negotiating Drug Prices Impact Patients with Heart Disease?

Micah Johnson et al. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Cardiovascular medications improve health and prevent early death. However, high drug prices reduce the use of these medications and strain the health system. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers and reduces out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. This article explores the potential impact that the IRA will have on the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Recent findings: Cardiovascular disease medications are likely to be selected for price negotiations under the IRA, leading to savings for patients and for Medicare. Recent work suggests that the IRA's reforms to the Medicare Part D drug benefit will meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs for important cardiovascular medications. The IRA is expected to impact cardiovascular disease treatments via price negotiations and through the broader access to medications afforded by improvements to Part D coverage design.

Keywords: Cardiovascular drugs; Drug price negotiation; Drug pricing; Inflation Reduction Act; Medicare Part D; Out-of-pocket costs.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •  Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. Ward C, Ewald E, Koenig K, Schluterman N. Prevalence and Health Care Expenditures among Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 Years and Over with Heart Conditions. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Published December 2017. Accessed February 1, 2023. https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research/MCBS/D... .
    1. •• Dusetzina SB, Huskamp HA, Rothman RL, et al. Many Medicare Beneficiaries Do Not Fill High-Price Specialty Drug Prescriptions. Health Aff (Millwood). 2022;41(4):487–496. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01742 . Findings from this study suggest that 25 to over 50% of Medicare beneficiaries who lack low-income subsidies do not fill high-priced medications that were prescribed by their doctors.
    1. •• Chandra A, Flack E, Obermeyer Z. The Health Costs of Cost-Sharing. Natl Bur Econ Res Work Pap. Published online February 2021. Findings from this study suggest that increases in out-of-pocket costs are associated with increased mortality among Medicare beneficiaries.
    1. Choudhry NK, Avorn J, Glynn RJ, et al. Full Coverage for Preventive Medications after Myocardial Infarction. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(22):2088–97. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1107913 . - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ma I, Tisdale RL, Vail D, Heidenreich PA, Sandhu AT. Utilization of Generic Cardiovascular Drugs in Medicare’s Part D Program. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2021;14(12):e007559. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.120.007559 .

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