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    • Recent Developments in the Medicaid Drug Rebate ProgramJune 1st, 2021

      The past two weeks have seen two noteworthy developments relating to CMS’s Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) regulations. 1.  PhRMA Sues CMS Challenging MDRP Rule Curbing Patient Assistance In December 2020, CMS published  a final rule making several changes to the MDRP regulations.  See our post …

    • AMPed up—again– over Medicaid Rebate False Claims Act allegationsApril 13th, 2021

      Earlier this month, the Department of Justice announced another settlement in a Medicaid Rebate False Claims Act (FCA) case.  In this case, United States ex rel. Streck v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Civil Action No. 2:13-CV-7547 (E.D. Pa)  Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) agreed to pay $75 …

    • HHS OIG Issues Advisory Opinion Regarding Free DrugsMarch 29th, 2021

      On March 24, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued its first advisory opinion of the year.  Advisory Opinion 21-01 addresses whether the provision of a specific drug at no cost by a pharmaceutical manufacturer to a …

    • Higher Medicaid Rebates Will Help to Fund COVID Rescue PlanMarch 15th, 2021

      Last Thursday March 11, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed by President Biden. Out of the hundreds of pages of this COVID relief legislation, our pinpoint focus here is on several pages relating to Medicaid coverage and drug rebates.  The legislation requires Medicaid …

    • OIG PBM Rebate Rule Delayed – TwiceFebruary 2nd, 2021

      In late November, the OIG published a final rule that excludes from the Federal healthcare program safe harbor for discounts rebates paid to Medicare Part D plans, or their PBMs (see our post here).  The rule also establishes two new safe harbors: one for rebates …

    • Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing Rule on Hold Awaiting ChangesJanuary 22nd, 2021

      As we previously reported (see here and here), in three separate cases, federal courts blocked the implementation of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rule for Medicare Part B drug payment.  (Our summary of the MFN rule is available here.)  In December 2020, the District Court …

    • Strike Three. Southern District of New York Joins Other Federal Courts In Blocking Trump Administration’s Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing Rule on Procedural GroundsJanuary 7th, 2021

      On December 30, 2020, District Court Judge Kenneth M. Karas of the Southern District of New York issued a nationwide preliminary injunction preventing the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rule from applying to Regeneron’s drug EYLEA (aflibercept).  This is the third federal court ruling preventing implementation …

    • Final Medicaid Best Price Changes Encourage Value Based Purchasing but Discourage Copay AssistanceJanuary 5th, 2021

      In the New Year’s Eve edition of the Federal Register, CMS published a final rule to implement statutory amendments to the Medicaid Rebate Program statute, and to add CMS’s own policy proposals to encourage value based purchasing arrangements and discourage patient copay assistance.  The variety of …

    • Federal Courts in Maryland and California Block Trump Administration’s Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing Rule on Procedural GroundsDecember 31st, 2020

      Two district courts recently dealt what may become fatal blows to the Trump administration’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) rule for Medicare Part B drug payment. As noted in our summary (available here), the MFN rule was published as an interim final rule with comment period …

    • New ASP Reporting Requirement for Manufacturers without a Medicaid Drug Rebate AgreementDecember 29th, 2020

      Buried in the 2,124-page Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act), which was signed by Donald Trump yesterday, was a brief provision requiring the reporting of average sales price (ASP) by manufacturers that do not have a Medicaid Drug Rebate Agreement.  ASP is used by CMS …

    • OIG Finalizes Safe Harbor Amendments Relating to Rebates, but Benefits to Patients Are UnclearDecember 8th, 2020

      As part of its final push to lower drug prices, the Trump administration announced that it was finalizing a January 2019 proposed rule to amend the safe harbor provisions relating to manufacturer rebates to Medicare Part D plans, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and their …

    • FDA Law Alert – December 2020December 4th, 2020

      To close out 2020, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to present the latest issue of our quarterly newsletter highlighting key postings from our nationally acclaimed FDA Law Blog.  Please subscribe to the FDA Law Blog to receive contemporaneous posts on regulatory and enforcement …

    • Discount “Stacking” in Medicaid Rebate Best Price Addressed by Federal District CourtNovember 11th, 2020

      On November 5, the Maryland Federal District Court dismissed a Federal False Claims Act qui tam suit alleging that Forest Laboratories knowingly reported inflated best prices under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP), resulting in underpayment of rebates.  United States ex. rel. Sheldon et al. …

    • HP&M’s Serra Schlanger to Present on State Drug Price Reporting LawsSeptember 29th, 2020

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to announce that Serra Schlanger will present at this year’s Drug Pricing Transparency Congress, a virtual conference, on November 16–17, 2020.  This conference gathers stakeholders to examine the evolving landscape of state drug price reporting and transparency efforts. …

    • FDA Law Alert – September 2020September 10th, 2020

      During these unprecedented times, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to bring you the next installment of our quarterly newsletter highlighting key postings from our nationally acclaimed FDA Law Blog.  Please subscribe to the FDA Law Blog to receive contemporaneous posts on regulatory and …