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A Better Deal: Medicare Discounts Surpass Estimated PBM-Negotiated Rebates

 
• By Cathy Kelly

But the amount of savings realized when the Medicare negotiated prices go into effect in 2026 remains the subject of debate.

Stakeholders are Working To Parse The Impact Of CMS negotiations. • Source: Shutterstock

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services appears to have obtained deeper discounts than rebates negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers on the 10 Medicare Part D drugs that were subject to the first price negotiation cycle.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare negotiators appear to have succeeded in obtaining discounts on the 10 drugs in the program that surpass current rebates.

  • But analyses of the outcome of the first round of Medicare price negotiations are hampered by a lack of data from CMS

The agency announced the negotiated prices on 15 August. They will go into effect 1 January 2026

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