Supreme Court Leans Toward Safeguarding Preventive Services
After oral arguments before the Supreme Court on whether preventive services will be protected, many are speculating that the nod goes to the government’s defense of the free services decided by several task forces wihin the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Plaintiffs are challenging the provision on religious grounds and arguing that those who decide what services should be provided are not properly appointed to make such decisions. The government argues the task forces have the right oversight and correctly appointed officials have the final say.
It is important to note that conclusions reached by reading the tea leaves from justices’ questions does not always match the final ruling.
Additional article: https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/publichealth/115218 and https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/scotus-appears-poised-back-uspstf-s-role-free-preventative-services and https://www.modernhealthcare.com/legal/supreme-court-aca-case-prep and https://insidehealthpolicy.com/health-insider/house-ec-plans-post-recess-budget-markup-scotus-appears-sympathetic-aca-preventative and https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5259118-supreme-court-obamacare-insurance/
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#prevention #preventiveservices #aca #obamacare
Arkansas Bars PBM Operation If Parent Owns Pharmacies
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law legislation that bars pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operating in the state from owning pharmacies. The ban kicks in Jan. 1, 2026, and bars a PBM from acquiring a stake in or owning a retail pharmacy permit in the state. There are some exemptions, including a 90-day permit that allows for pharmacies that dispense orphan drugs or other limited distribution products.
Additional article: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/arkansas-pbm-law-sell-pharmacies-cvs-unitedhealth/745856/
#pbms #drugpricing #ar
Walgreens Settles Opioid Case
Walgreens has agreed to pay $300 million to settle federal allegations that it illegally filled millions of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
#opioids #fwa #pbms
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Again In The News
Eli Lilly says it will make its new GLP-1 weight loss pill in the U.S. as it seeks to onshore business after commitments to the Trump administration and given impending tariffs on drugs.
In related news, Novo Nordisk is challenging the government’s inclusion of multiple Novo Nordisk drugs in the second round of negotiations. Novo alleges that a number of drugs were bundled together and the number to be negotiated exceeds what is allowed by law. Six of Novo’s drugs in the second round have the same active ingredient.
Read today’s blog on President Trump’s drug pricing executive order: https://www.healthcarelabyrinth.com/expect-big-things-from-donald-trump-on-drug-prices/
Additional article: https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/21/novo-nordisk-pharma-industry-challenge-to-medicare-drug-pricing-program/
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#glp1s #weightlossdrugs #drugpricing #branddrugmakers
— Marc S. Ryan
