Rheumatologists Ring the Alarm

Earlier this week the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) rang an alarm about the dangerous Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing regulation. The MFN rule would base Medicare payment for 50 complex drugs and biologics on international pricing information from 22 different countries. When the price of the drug internationally is lower than what a U.S. physician is able to purchase it for then a patient is denied that particular medication, even if it’s the therapy the physician knows would best treat their condition.

ACR is not exaggerating when it states “the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services interim final rule establishing a “most favored nation” payment model for Medicare Part B drugs will dramatically disrupt patient access to critical therapies needed to manage rheumatic diseases and conditions.” Physicians and patients need unencumbered access to therapies to treat complex medical conditions. Medicare’s MFN rule prevents care teams from delivering patients the medications that are an essential element of the personalized plans of care that physicians craft for their patients. Stand with Patients and Providers United to TAKE ACTION and oppose dangerous policies that threaten patient access to care, limit treatment options and put barriers between patients and the healing care their physician prescribes for them. ents, providers and caregivers.