National Council on Aging’s Post

You may have heard about #Leqembi, the latest FDA-approved breakthrough in #Alzheimers treatment. Anyone with early-stage #Alzheimers can get a prescription—but even with #Medicare Part B coverage, not everyone can afford it. Here's what you and your community need to know about the cost, access, and effectiveness of this drug.👇 #AlzheimersAndBrainAwarenessMonth https://lnkd.in/ei7uJwXP

Big News for Medicare Beneficiaries!💊 HHS has announced 15 additional drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. These discussions, set for 2025, aim to make prescription medications more affordable for seniors, with new prices becoming effective in 2027. Between November 2023 and October 2024, over 5.3 million Medicare Part D users relied on these medications to manage conditions like cancer, type 2 diabetes, and asthma. This is a significant step toward lowering prescription drug costs and improving access for millions. Stay informed and share this important update!💙 #MedicareNews #LowerDrugCosts #DallasCMS

🚨 RAAP PDAB Pres Release: PDAB in Virginia The Wrong Prescription for Rare Disease Patients 🚨 Virginia’s proposed Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) might sound like a win for healthcare affordability, but it’s a misguided approach that could hurt the very patients it claims to help—especially those with rare diseases. While the goal is to reduce drug costs, PDABs rely on arbitrary price controls that could limit access to life-saving treatments for rare and orphan diseases. These measures may lead to higher patient costs and fewer treatment options. As Michael Eging, Executive Director of RAAP, highlights: “Lawmakers should prioritize reforms that genuinely lower out-of-pocket costs without compromising access to critical treatments.” RAAP supports proven, bipartisan solutions like: ✔️ Capping out-of-pocket copay alternatives ✔️ PBM transparency reforms ✔️ Protecting patients from copay accumulator and maximizer programs Let’s focus on real solutions that protect innovation, patient access, and affordability. Virginia lawmakers, please vote NO on HB 1724. #RareDiseases #HealthcarePolicy #PatientAdvocacy #Innovation #VirginiaLegislation #RAAP

Today, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new dementia drug, lecanemab, for use in the UK. However, it is unlikely that the drug will be available for use on the NHS in England and Wales after a decision from NICE that it is not cost effective.  Unless this position changes, only those who can afford to pay the estimated annual cost of £20,000 to buy lecanemab privately will benefit from this potentially life-changing treatment. Yet again it seems like people with dementia are being pushed to the back of the queue when it comes to NHS spending.  We understand that this drug is not a ‘silver bullet’ but it’s probably the most important first step we can take on a journey towards an effective disease modifying treatment.     As far as we’re concerned this is fundamentally about the human rights of people with dementia to receive treatment.   We will be doing all we can to influence and respond to NICE’s consultation on lecanemab, and we hope that the independent Scottish Medicines Consortium will reach a positive decision.  Read more here – https://lnkd.in/e58Teacr If you have been affected by today’s decision and require information or emotional support, please contact our 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline at 0808 808 300, or email helpline@alzscot.org.

Today, we are proud to announce HCA Healthcare collected 21,137 pounds of unused or expired medications during our sixth annual “Crush the Crisis” national prescription drug take back day. This surpasses last year’s totals and is the most we have ever collected during the annual event. In total, HCA Healthcare has now collected more than 88,600 pounds of medication since launching “Crush the Crisis” as an enterprise initiative in 2019. “I am amazed by the results of this year’s Crush the Crisis,” said Dr. Randy Fagin, chief medical officer of HCA Healthcare’s National Group. “Our colleagues showed up for their communities to help remove unneeded medication before it could fall into the wrong hands. This record-breaking year is a testament to how HCA Healthcare cares for the communities we serve.” HCA Healthcare facilities across the country partnered with local law enforcement to help communities safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired medication. An estimated 14.5 million doses of medication were collected at more than 125 collection sites. HCA Healthcare’s “Crush the Crisis” events were held in alignment with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which collected 629,953 pounds of medication. ➡ Learn more about HCA Healthcare’s initiatives to help reduce prescription drug misuse and transform pain management: https://bit.ly/3AQyTmu. #HealthierTomorrows #CrushTheCrisis

🔍 **Insight into Semaglutide's Impact on U.S. Health Costs and Access** A recent analysis reveals that over 136 million American adults could potentially benefit from semaglutide, the GLP-1 drug marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight management. Beyond these uses, semaglutide may also aid in preventing heart disease. Despite the promising health benefits, the costs—approximately $1,000 per month—pose significant financial barriers. Currently, insurance coverage predominantly supports its use for type 2 diabetes. With 2023 net sales reaching $13.8 billion, semaglutide's pricing remains under scrutiny. While pharmaceutical firms emphasize the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in cost decisions, economic accessibility remains a critical issue, with less than half of eligible patients receiving coverage through Medicare or Medicaid. As healthcare professionals and policymakers navigate these challenges, prioritizing affordability and broadening coverage could enhance health outcomes and access for millions. #Healthcare #Pharmaceuticals #Semaglutide #AccessToCare #InnovationInMedicine

Here’s 5 things wrong with a recent JAMA study that’s fueling misleading rhetoric around the cost of diabetes and anti-obesity medicines: 1. JAMA fails to account for the substantial risk and cost it takes to bring new medicines to market.   2. The study doesn’t represent the actual costs invested to manufacture these medicines.   3. JAMA ignores significant price concessions that dramatically lower net prices.   4. Medicare spending on diabetes medicines is likely far lower than what is being reported.   5. Medicines have the potential to drive significant savings to the health care system and avoid economic losses. Get the facts here: https://lnkd.in/e4t6ietF

➡️A quick summary of executive orders that impact (or may) drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. While the actions are temporary they do delay action for now. ✅Time will tell if the new administration continues the same path forward on drug price controls for Medicare.

#ICYMI, our newest blog discusses the importance of effective strategies to resolve drug therapy problems (#DTPs) while exploring actions #HealthPlans and #PBMs can take for improved #adherence, member health outcomes and cost savings. https://hubs.ly/Q02zFy1H0 #adherenceresolved #AdhereHealth #MedicationOptimization

EMA updates guidelines to prevent interactions between weight loss drug Mysimba and opioids, enhancing patient safety and treatment efficacy. #ClinicalResearches #RegulatoryAgencies #PatientSafety #Healthcare #MarketAccessToday #MarketAccess