STAT+: Medicare quietly gave blockbuster AbbVie drug seven extra years before price negotiations, advocacy group asserts

Little-noticed policy decision came at expense of taxpayers, Public Citizen says Rachel Wisniewski for STAT Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter. A little-noticed policy shift by the Trump administration caused a seven-year delay in choosing a costly AbbVie medicine for Medicare price negotiations, a move likely to hurt taxpayers, according to an analysis by a consumer advocacy group. The change occurred as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services readied a new round of talks with drugmakers over prices that the agency would pay for a limited number of medicines. The process was created by the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in 2022 in response to the rising cost of prescription drugs. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter.