Medicare Part D Protected Classes Targeted in Last-Minute Payment Demo Update

If not reversed by the Biden Administration, demo program that puts plans at increased risk in catastrophic phase would also enhance negotiating leverage for drugs in the protected classes.

Protected Classes Policy Is Unique To Medicare Part D

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on the final day of the Trump Administration that it would allow insurers participating in the Medicare Part D payment modernization model to restrict coverage in the six protected classes, in an attempt to attract more volunteers to the demonstration.

Under an eleventh-hour update to the model released on 19 January, CMS announced it would waive the requirement that...

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