Medicare Targets 15 Prescriptions for Price Negotiations: Is Yours on the List?

Medicare has targeted 15 prescriptions for price negotiations. Are there big savings in the future for customers?

According to a press release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the United States Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the selection of 15 additional drugs covered under Medicare Part D that are currently under price negotiations. These negotiations will take place sometime this year, and the negotiated prices will take effect in 2027.

From November 2023 to October 2024, approximately 5.3 million Part D beneficiaries used these medications to manage various conditions, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and asthma, as reported by the press release.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said of the matter, “Last year we proved that negotiating for lower drug prices works. Now we plan to build on that record by negotiating for lower prices for 15 additional important drugs for seniors. Today’s announcement is pivotal — the Inflation Reduction Act is lowering prices for people on Medicare. HHS will continue negotiating in the best interest of people with Medicare to have access to innovative, life-saving treatments at lower costs.”

Which 15 Drugs Are Up for Medicare Price Negotiations?

Big News: 15 more drugs have been selected for Medicare price negotiation under @POTUS.

Our Administration completed the first round of negotiations last year and delivered dramatic savings, slashing the price of some most commonly used drugs in Medicare by about 40% to 80%. https://t.co/pY0wKqBDqn

— The White House 46 Archived (@WhiteHouse46) January 17, 2025

According to the CMS, the selected drugs cover medications for diabetes, weight loss, asthma, prostate cancer, chemotherapy, breast cancer, and COPD, to name a few.

The selected drug list includes: 

• Ozempic; Rybelsus; Wegovy 
• Trelegy Ellipta 
• Xtandi
• Pomalyst
• Ibrance
• Ofev
• Linzess
• Calquence
• Austedo; Austedo XR 
• Breo Ellipta 
• Tradjenta
• Xifaxan
• Vraylar
• Janumet; Janumet XR 
• Otezla

When negotiating with manufacturers, the CMS reported that it will “consider the selected drug’s clinical benefit, the extent to which it addresses unmet medical needs, and its impact on specific populations, including people who rely on Medicare.” There are also other considerations, such as costs associated with research and development and production and distribution for the selected drugs as they enter the second cycle of the Drug Price Negotiation Program.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted by former U.S. President Joe Biden, Medicare can negotiate the prices of certain prescription drugs to make them more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities. The act expands benefits, lowers drug costs, keeps prescription drug premiums stable, and continues to improve the strength of the program for generations to come.