The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a new list of Medicare Part B drugs that will have lower coinsurance rates from April 1 to June 30 if drugmakers raise their prices faster than the rate of inflation.
Under the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, some beneficiaries that use one or more of the 41 rebatable drugs on the list may save between $1 and $3,575 per average dose depending on their coverage, the HHS said. The agency estimates that 763,700 people with Medicare use one or more of the 41 drugs annually.
Last December, the agency released its first-quarter 2024 list of rebatable drugs under the program. There were 48 drugs in that list and Medicare coinsurance for certain Part B drugs on the list were expected to save some beneficiaries up to $2,786 per dose, HHS said at the time.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Drug companies are required to pay the rebates for certain drugs to Medicare when prices increase faster than inflation as part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which established the program.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the administration “will continue to use every lever we have to lower healthcare costs for more Americans.”
Drug price talks continue
In addition, drugmakers participating in Medicare's price talks on the first 10 Part D drugs sent counteroffers to the agency earlier this month, following Medicare's initial offer in February.
The drugs, covered under Part D, are: Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara and Fiasp/NovoLog.
Negotiations are slated to end August 1. New negotiated prices for the drugs expected to be announced by September 1, with an effective date of January 2026.
Guidance on Medicare programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a variety of guidance documents on the rebatable drugs, price negotiations with drugmakers, and other Medicare programs. For more information on reducing coinsurance for certain Part B rebatable drugs under the Medicare prescription drug inflation rebate program, see this CMS fact sheet.
HHS also has launched LowerDrugCosts.gov, a new website for Medicare beneficiaries with information related to the drug pricing provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act as well as resources for Medicare enrollees and other interested parties.
Related Content
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on the New Senior DeductionAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older.
-
These Summer 2025 Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekends Start NowSales Tax Over a dozen states offer back-to-school shoppers a sales tax holiday this summer.
-
Do You Need Flood Insurance? I'm an Insurance Expert, and Here's Where You Can Get ItStandard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so you might need separate flood insurance, which you can get either through FEMA or private companies. Here are the details.
-
I'm an Investment Professional: These Are the Three Money Tips I'm Giving My College GradCollege grads can help set themselves up for financial independence by focusing on emergency savings, opting into a 401(k) at work (if it's offered) and disciplined, long-term investing.
-
New SALT Cap Deduction: Unlock Massive Tax Savings with Non-Grantor TrustsThe One Big Beautiful Bill Act's increase of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap creates an opportunity to use multiple non-grantor trusts to maximize deductions and enhance estate planning.
-
Know Your ABDs? A Beginner's Guide to Medicare BasicsMedicare is an alphabet soup — and the rules can be just as confusing as the terminology. Conquer the system with this beginner's guide to Parts A, B and D.
-
I'm an Investment Adviser: Why Playing Defense Can Win the Investing GameChasing large returns through gold and other alternative investments might be thrilling, but playing defensive 'small ball' with your investments can be a winning formula.
-
3 Things Dave Ramsey Says to Stop Buying — and 2 That Are Worth ItDebt-free living starts with smart choices. Here's what Ramsey says to avoid and where your money is well spent.
-
High Mortgage Rates Are Holding My Retirement Hostage: Can I Still Downsize and Retire?We ask retirement wealth advisers what to do.
-
Five Big Beautiful Bill Changes and How Wealthy Retirees Can BenefitHere's how wealthy retirees can plan for the changes in the new tax legislation, including what it means for tax rates, the SALT cap, charitable giving, estate taxes and other deductions and credits.
