Big Pharma was crying apocalypse for drug innovation and the industry when Medicare drug price negotiation passed. As is the case with almost every “Chicken Little” declaration, their world and ours did not come to an end. The public just might see some drug price relief.
About The Podcast:
Millions of Americans feel confused and frustrated in their search for quality healthcare coverage.
Between out-of-control costs, countless inefficiencies, a lack of affordable universal access, and little focus on wellness and prevention, the system is clearly in dire need of change.
Hosted by healthcare policy and technology expert Marc S. Ryan, the Healthcare Labyrinth Podcast offers accessible, incisive deep dives on the most pressing issues and events in American healthcare.
Marc seeks to help Americans become wiser consumers and navigate the healthcare maze with more confidence and certainty through The Healthcare Labyrinth website and his book of the same name.
Marc is an unconventional Republican who believes that affordable universal access is a wise and prudent investment. He recommends common-sense solutions to reform American healthcare.
Tune in every week as Marc examines the latest developments in the space, offering analysis, insights, and predictions on the changing state of healthcare in America.
About The Episode:
On this episode, Marc discusses the recently announced Medicare drug prices negotiated for the first ten drugs in 2026. Big Pharma was crying an apocalypse would happen. But as is the case with almost every “Chicken Little” declaration, their world and ours did not come to an end. The public just might see some drug price relief.
Key Takeaways:
CMS announced drug prices for the first ten drugs in Medicare negotiations for 2026.
Big Pharma argued the world would come to an end if the negotiation process passed.
The discounts off list prices are between 38% and 79%, but real savings are much less – perhaps about 22%.
But this is savings nonetheless for Medicare and enrollees.
Still, American consumers will continue pay markedly more than citizens in other developed countries.
The negotiations are fair and should grow over time.
The drug market is not a free market and the intervention is not unreasonable.
Big Pharma companies have told investors the drug price negotiation law will not jeopardize margins.
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Resources
The Healthcare Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance
