Association for Accessible Medicines Statement Responding to the CMS Calendar Year (CY) 2020 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies and Final Call Letter
WASHINGTON, DC (April 1, 2019) – We commend the Administration for encouraging Part D sponsors to prioritize formulary placement for generics and biosimilars and for recognizing situations in which plans are not covering lower-cost generics. However, the final Part D Call letter for 2020 misses an opportunity to lower seniors' out-of-pocket costs by $4 billion by allowing the continued placement of lower-cost generics on tiers with higher cost sharing. It also means that brand manufacturers will be able to continue anticompetitive contracting, blocking patient access to generic and biosimilar medicines. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure that plans are encouraging use of these lower-cost medicines.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Schwartz
202.249.7147
About AAM
AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 23 percent of total drug spending.
About the Biosimilars Council
The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available at www.biosimilarscouncil.org.