A Tally on Most Favored Nation

The public comment period on Medicare’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) model closed on January 26, 2021. Hundreds of individuals, medical organizations, patient advocacy groups and corporations submitted comments to the federal agency that sponsored the MFN proposed model. MFN would force a new, untested payment scheme for some of the most innovative, effective, and life-sustaining therapies on America’s most vulnerable seniors.

A snapshot of the 841 comments submitted as of January 8, broke out like this – over 98% (835 comments) opposed or urged changes to MFN, while less than 1% supported it. The reasons so many patients, providers and caregivers oppose MFN is because it could have devastating consequences for people with cancer and other serious chronic conditions. MFN will fundamentally impact access to current and future innovative treatments for America’s sickest patients; it will disrupt patient access to personalized treatment and restrict real-time decision making by doctors and MFN increase burdens, costs, and risk for providers delivering treatment to Medicare patients.

Recent court activity has resulted in a nationwide injunction on MFN implementation, so the MFN proposal has been paused. However, it must be revoked altogether because patients win when they can access the medication, procedures and care recommended in the comprehensive treatment plan their physician tailors for them. Join with Patients and Providers United and TAKE ACTION to keep patients and providers – not government cost controls – at the center of medical decision making.