Speaking of APMs, if you are aware of the possible reimbursement cuts to Medicare providers coming through MIPS, you may be interested in how a rheumatology-related APM may allow you to avoid them. For several months, a team of your fellow ACR volunteers has been designing an APM for this purpose. The team is focusing on RA, and the experience may lead to APM tracks for other disease states. Stay tuned.
Biosimilars
The ACR commented on the FDA’s proposed interchangeable pathway in late May. Your advocacy team strongly supports the FDA’s proposal for interchangeable biosimilar clinical trials to switch patients between a reference drug and its biosimilar at least three times (A-B-A-B) to prove safety and efficacy. The College also came out in support of meaningful suffixes that would make biosimilar names more memorable and easier to work with. The Biosimilars Prescribers Collaborative released a succinct white paper on biosimilars with great information and advocacy points; the ACR contributed to this document, and I highly recommend reading it. My recent op ed details some of the current issues and salient points about interchangeability. Stay tuned for an ACR white paper on biosimilars coming later this summer/fall.
#ACR2017
As we learn of the scientific findings coming out of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2017 Congress this past week, we’re reminded that the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting is just around the corner. Unfortunately, due to the new extreme vetting of visitors to the U.S., the ACR, like other organizations, is anticipating a possible drop in international attendees at the meeting. To help mitigate this issue, the ACR offers a website with tips and information for international travelers. Please spread the word to your international colleagues and friends—and keep the ACR’s meeting strong and fruitful.
Coalition Challenges PBMs
The ACR has joined the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions, a coalition dedicated to transparency for pharmacy benefit managers. Congress is holding hearings on PBMs and the drug pricing system—as the major industry stakeholders start pointing fingers at each other. Recently, coverage has increased in the press and medical literature. See topical stories in the following publications (apologies for the paywalls): the Journal of the American Medical Association, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
MedPAC Déjà Vu
MedPAC, the independent U.S. federal policy commission, is at it again. It has proposed a reduction in reimbursement for Medicare Part B drug administration services and allowing companies to create prior authorization programs and other barriers to Medicare treatments. In response, the ACR and many state rheumatology societies sent a letter to HHS Secretary Price urging him not to adopt the recommendations. The ACR’s advocacy team is watching this closely and will respond forcefully—with your help—if CMS begins to adopt any of these plans.
