16 August 2018 - On Wednesday, Secretary Alex Azar met with representatives of specialty-physician and patient groups to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to offer new tools for Medicare Advantage plans to negotiate lower drug prices for patients.

The groups included the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, the American College of Rheumatology, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, and Patients for Affordable Drugs. Secretary Azar was joined by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Principal Deputy Administrator Demetrios Kouzoukas, Senior Advisor for Drug Pricing Reform Dan Best, and Advisor to the Secretary John O’Brien.

Both Secretary Azar and the organisational representatives expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share their views with each other on the recent announcement that Medicare Advantage plans will be able to use step therapy or prior authorisation to negotiate lower drug prices for patients. Most of the groups with representatives in attendance have expressed concerns about the new policy.

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