Washington Post: Trump's Latest Move to Lower Drug Spending Pits Patients Versus Insurers

​An article from the Washington Post highlights the Partnership for Part D Access's recent study that shows that insurers operating Medicare Part D plans have a robust toolkit to manage costs of drugs in the six protected classes. This week’s proposal from the Trump Administration to give insurers new negotiating power is unnecessary and could reduce the ability of patients to access needed medicine. As Catherine Finley, a senior advisor to the Partnership, told the Post, “access to affordable medication is important, but access to an affordable drug that doesn’t work isn’t helpful.” The article noted that the six protected classes were established when Medicare Part D was created in 2003, and that there is widespread agreement that those protections ensure that seniors can access critical drugs without worrying about being denied coverage.

---