1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Market Access

The COVID-19 Effect: Medicare Part B Oncology Drug Claims Down 40% Through April

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Study commissioned by the PhRMA underscores concerns about how the coronavirus has disrupted use of physician-administered drugs.

Infusion of a hospital
Physician Administration Of Infused Drugs Down Sharply

Medicare Part B claims for the top 10 oncology drugs in terms of spending were significantly lower at the end of April compared to the previous year as the COVID-19 pandemic limited patient access to in-person care, according to a recent analysis by Avalere Health.

Avalere looked at billing frequency for branded oncology drugs (including chemotherapies and immune-oncology) with the highest Part B drug spending...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Market Access

Oz Says Big PBMs Have ‘Window’ to Quit Rebate System on Their Own

 
• By Leslie Small

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said PBMs may deserve "one last chance" to fix the rebate system before federal regulations and legislation are enacted.

Denmark Introduces First Confidential Pricing Framework For Primary Care Medicines

 
• By Francesca Bruce

Expanded confidential pricing for pharmaceuticals is intended to help manage medicines expenditure, according to Amgros, the procurement agency that will negotiate the prices.

Canada Unveils Draft List of Essential Drugs For Universal Pharmacare

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The list of essential prescription drugs and related products will shape Canada’s first national formulary for the country’s universal pharmacare program.

Repurposed Drugs: EU Pharma Reform Offers Boost, But Payers ‘Must Recognize Health Gains’

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Incentives for repurposed drugs proposed as part of the EU pharma reform package are a “great step forward,” but more recognition is needed from payers and regulators to leverage the benefits of these medicines, experts say.

More from Pink Sheet

New EFPIA President Hopes ‘Sanity Will Prevail’ In EU Pharma Reform Dialogs

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Stefan Oelrich, the newly-announced president of European pharma industry federation EFPIA says the EU pharma reform is “not an improvement on the status quo” in its current form.

UK Pilots Faster Setup Of Early Phase Oncology Trials

 
• By Vibha Sharma

Oncology trial sponsors in the UK are being invited to participate in a pilot that aims to tackle duplication and variation in pharmacy reviews, which are an important part of setting up clinical trials in the National Health Service.

US CDC Vaccine Committee Revives Thimerosal Debate: A Portent Of Things To Come?

 
• By Bridget Silverman

The new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted for new recommendations on the decades-old thimerosal safety issue and lays intellectual groundwork to revisit other past controversies and decisions.