“Older Americans on Medicare who take 10 widely prescribed drugs such as Xarelto or Eliquis will get a break on the medications’ list prices beginning in 2026,” Ken Alltucker writes over at USA Today. “The Biden administration announced Thursday that Medicare had negotiated discounts with pharmaceutical companies on 10 drugs prescribed to treat blood clots, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The drugs are Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and the insulins Fiasp and NovoLog. The discounts will range from 38% to 79% when the negotiated prices take effect in 2026. The bargaining will save Medicare $6 billion when the price cuts are implemented in two years, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates. Medicare enrollees can expect to save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs, HHS said. The list price of Merck’s diabetes drug Januvia will be slashed to $113 for a 30-day supply from $527 as of 2023. Eliquis, a blood thinner from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, will cost $231 for a 30-day supply, down from $521. Consumers can see a list of the 10 discounted drugs here.” Ken Alltucker, “Biden administration says Medicare negotiated price discounts on 10 prescription drugs,” USA Today.
