It’s NOT the promised negotiate directly with the drug companies. Contains less teeth and makes the drug less upset than they would have been with directly negotiating with Medicare.
“By allowing Medicare Advantage plans to negotiate for physician-administered drugs like private-sector insurers already do”
“These negotiating tools will offer plans the same power that private-sector insurers have to drive down the price of prescription drugs and force manufacturers to compete on price”
“Our blueprint brings the latest negotiation tools to our government programs and expands private-sector negotiation to parts of Medicare that have never had negotiation.”
“This policy change to Medicare Advantage will bring new negotiating power to Medicare faster than other policies may have, but it is just part of a broader vision to ensure that the latest, successful negotiation tools are applied throughout the Medicare program to bring down prices for seniors.”