Biden Administration releases list of drugs medicare will negotiate prices for

August 29, 2023

Rob Flaks,

MARYLAND – Maryland Health Care for All is applauding the Biden administration for its announcement of a list of 10 drugs Medicare will begin to negotiate prices for starting in 2026 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The list includes medications that treat diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Vinny DeMarco of the Maryland Health Care for All advocacy network says it’s the most significant step the US has ever taken to reign in the prices of prescription drugs.

DeMarco says the list has the potential to impact thousands of Marylanders across multiple classes of coverage.

“These drugs need to be made affordable because drugs can work if people can’t afford them but all the drugs on this list are very important and a good model for our affordability boards to make these accessible for all of us not just those on Medicare,” he said.

The list includes:

Jardiance, for Type 2 diabetes and heart failure, from Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly

Xarelto, for preventing strokes and blood clots, from Johnson & Johnson

Januvia, for Type 2 diabetes, from Merck

Farxiga, for chronic kidney disease, from AstraZeneca

Entresto, for heart failure, from Novartis

Enbrel, for arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, from Amgen

Imbruvica, for blood cancers, from AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson

Stelara, for Crohn’s disease, from Johnson & Johnson

Fiasp and NovoLog insulin products, for diabetes, from Novo Nordisk

Eliquis, for preventing strokes and blood clots, from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer

DeMarco says Marylanders could soon see further savings as the State’s Affordability Boards would be able extend further discounts across medications, for non medicare recipients.