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HHS Rebate Rule: At Least We Know Who Is In Charge

 
• By Michael McCaughan

HHS proposal to eliminate the “safe harbor” that allows for prescription drug rebates took a long time to clear White House review. Its release sends a clear message that US HHS Secretary Azar wants to lead the drug pricing debate in 2019.

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HHS Secretary Azar

It may be hard to predict what the elimination of the “safe harbor” that has allowed for prescription drug rebates in the US will mean for participants in the pharmaceutical supply chain, but the release of the rule makes one thing very clear: HHS Secretary Alex Azar intends to lead the drug pricing debate in 2019.

The rule, which would eliminate the protection on prescription drug rebates from prosecution under federal anti-kickback, will clearly have far-reaching implications on manufacturers, plans, PBMs, pharmacies and, ultimately, consumers –...

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