As you might have seen, CMS announced the next 15 drugs to go through the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program in late January. For the first time, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has the authority to negotiate drugs in the Part B program, as well as Part D drugs.
The Alpha-1 Foundation is working closely with AfPA to have the Alpha-1 patient voice heard. Alliance for Patient Access (AfPA) plans to weigh in with CMS with particular concerns focused on the importance of patient-centered care, continued priority for tailored treatment, additional innovation and potential implications to clinician reimbursement. The Alpha-1 Foundation is working closely with AfPA to have the Alpha-1 patient voice heard.
CMS has been adamant that clinician and patient voices are critical to this process, so to help answer questions and facilitate engagement, AfPA has created a webpage and toolkit that lays out the opportunities to make your voice heard.
PLEASE SHARE WITH OTHER ALPHAS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT GROUPS.
Written Comments
CMS is soliciting written comments through an online portal that you can access HERE. Click through the dropdown menus to identify your desired treatment to comment on and you’ll be brought to the form to input your responses. This portal sorts the questions by stakeholder type, so you are not required to answer every question on the form. All submissions on the form must be completed by 11:59 PM PT (2:59 AM ET) on March 1.
- ALL – I27 and J
- Patient – I28-33
- Clinician – I40-45
- Researcher – I46-51
- Others from the public – I52-54
* If you fail to meet the deadline for written comments, but are still interested in having your perspective shared with CMS, you may submit letters to the following email address: IRARebateNegotiation@cms.hhs.gov
Virtual Testimony
- Join a Patient Roundtable
- CMS will be hosting treatment specific roundtables for each of the 15 selected drugs. These will be closed-door sessions where patients and caregivers can engage in a facilitated discussion with CMS to share their experience with each of the treatments.
- Anoro Ellipta’s roundtable will take place on April 6 from 11-1 ET
- You must register at the following LINK by March 6.
- Join a Clinically Focused Town Hall
- CMS will also be holding live streamed testimony opportunities for clinicians and other stakeholders to share clinical considerations for each of the selected treatments. These will be consist of a more straightforward “testimony styled” session, with the opportunities for facilitators and CMS to ask questions. These will also be live streamed for the public.
You must register at the following LINK by March 6.
Anoro Ellipta’s town hall will take place on Aprill 22 from 10:30-12:00 ET.
