The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the Act), signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, includes several provisions to lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government. One of the Act’s key drug-related policies is a requirement for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices with drug companies for certain drugs covered under Medicare Part D (starting in 2026) and Part B (starting in 2028). This new requirement is the culmination of years of debate among lawmakers over whether to grant the federal government the authority to negotiate drug prices in Medicare.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued initial guidance describing CMS’s plans for implementation of the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program for 2026, the first year that negotiated prices will be available under this new program. CMS will announce the list of 10 Part D drugs to be negotiated on September 1, 2023. Drawing on information in CMS’s initial guidance, these FAQs address several questions related to Medicare’s drug price negotiation program and how CMS intends to implement the new program, with a focus on the details that apply for 2026. CMS has solicited comments on several issues described in the guidance and intends to issue final guidance in the summer of 2023; these FAQs will be updated as needed to reflect any revisions.

Which types of drugs qualify for price negotiation for 2026?

Drugs qualify for price negotiation for 2026 if they are covered under Medicare Part D, Medicare’s outpatient prescription drug benefit program, and are single-source brand-name drugs or biological products without therapeutically-equivalent generic or biosimilar alternatives. In addition, a drug product must be at least 7 years (for small-molecule drugs) or 11 years (for biologics) past its FDA approval or licensure date, as of the date that the list of drugs selected for negotiation is published. (The Act’s reference to FDA approval is the section of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that establishes the traditional approval pathway or licensure of biological products under the Public Health Service Act, not FDA’s accelerated approval program.) This means that for a single-source drug to be eligible for negotiation for 2026, a drug product must have been approved on or before September 1, 2016, and a biological product must have been licensed on or before September 1, 2012. For drugs with multiple FDA approvals, CMS intends to use the earliest approval date to determine the number of years that have elapsed.

The definition of ‘qualifying single source drug’ excludes certain types of drugs: (1) drugs that are designated for only one rare disease or condition and approved for an indication (or indications) only for such disease or condition (known as the orphan drug exclusion); (2) drugs with total spending under Part D and Part B combined of less than $200 million are also excluded (based on data from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 for the 2026 determination; and (3) plasma-derived products. For 2026 to 2028, the Act also makes an exception for so-called “small biotech” drugs (explained in more detail below)

How many drugs will be selected for negotiation for 2026?

For 2026, CMS will select 10 Part D drugs for price negotiation with drug manufacturers. The list of 10 Part D selected drugs will be published on September 1, 2023. The number of drugs subject to price negotiation will increase in future years: 15 Medicare Part D drugs for 2027, another 15 drugs covered under Medicare Part D or Part B for 2028, and another 20 drugs covered under Part D or Part B drugs for 2029 and later years. The number of drugs with negotiated prices available will accumulate over time.

How will CMS identify which drugs to select for price negotiation for 2026?

The 10 Part D drugs that will be selected for price negotiation for 2026 will be chosen from the top 50 negotiation-eligible Part D drugs with the highest total Medicare Part D expenditures. For this purpose, total expenditures are defined as total gross covered prescription drug costs. To determine this ranking, CMS will first identify the qualifying single source drugs among all covered Part D drugs, applying the relevant statutory exclusions (as described above). CMS will then calculate total expenditures for each qualifying drug, based on spending data for the 12-month period from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. The top 50 drugs with the highest total expenditures for this 12-month period will be the negotiation-eligible drugs for 2026.

The Inflation Reduction Act provides for a delay in selecting drugs for negotiation if they are biological products where there is a “high likelihood” of biosimilar market entry within two years of the publication date of the selected drug list (see details below). Therefore, before selecting the 10 highest-ranked Part D drugs from this top 50 list, CMS will first remove any biological products that qualify for delayed selection based on a high likelihood of biosimilar market entry before September 1, 2025.

What is the Small Biotech Exception?

For 2026 through 2028, the Inflation Reduction Act specifies that so-called “small biotech” drugs will not be eligible for negotiation. To qualify under this “Small Biotech Exception” for 2026, total expenditures under Part D on the drug in 2021 must be both: 1) 1% or less of total Part D expenditures for all covered Part D drugs, and 2) 80% or more of total expenditures under Part D for all of the manufacturer’s drugs where a Coverage Gap Discount Program agreement was in effect in 2021. These calculations will be made by CMS. A manufacturer that seeks to have a drug considered for the Small Biotech Exception is required to submit information about the company and its products to CMS. CMS anticipates that the deadline for submitting this information will be June 2023, allowing time for CMS to determine which drugs might qualify for the Small Biotech Exception prior to the September 1, 2023 selected drug publication date for 2026. Manufacturers who want to have a drug considered for this exception for 2027 and 2028 will have to resubmit their request in the future, since CMS’s determinations about the Small Biotech Exception for 2026 will not carry over to future years.

What is the Biosimilar Delay?

The Inflation Reduction Act provides for a delay in selecting drugs for negotiation if they are biological products where there is a “high likelihood” of biosimilar market entry within two years of the publication date of the selected drug list. For 2026, this means that licensure and marketing of a biosimilar must be highly likely to occur before September 1, 2025. The rationale for this delay is to not create financial incentives that could deter biosimilars from entering the market if, for example, a reference product (the original biological product approved by FDA against which a proposed biosimilar product is compared) is selected for negotiation and ultimately priced lower than potential competitor biosimilar products.

For CMS to consider whether to grant such a delay, the manufacturer of the biosimilar biological product for a given negotiation-eligible reference product will need to submit a delay request to CMS prior to the selected drug publication date. A biosimilar manufacturer will not know if the reference product will be selected for negotiation when they submit this request, but CMS will disregard the request if the reference product does not end up being selected for negotiation. In the negotiation program guidance, CMS specified May 10, 2023 as the deadline for biosimilar manufacturers to email CMS that they intend to submit a delay request, and May 22, 2023 as the deadline for biosimilar manufacturers to submit their complete delay request, including the required documentation to support CMS’s consideration of the request.

CMS will make a determination of whether there is a high likelihood of biosimilar market entry based on two factors: 1) whether an application for licensure of the biosimilar product has been accepted for review or already approved by the FDA, and 2) “clear and convincing” evidence that the biosimilar product will be marketed within two years of the selected drug publication date, including demonstrating that there are no patent barriers to entry and operational readiness to bring the biosimilar product to market.

CMS will not grant a request to delay selection of a reference product for negotiation if more than one year has passed between licensure of the biosimilar and its marketing.

What factors will CMS use in negotiating the maximum fair price for a given drug?

The Act requires CMS to consider certain manufacturer-specific factors and information about therapeutic alternatives in negotiating the so-called “maximum fair price” for selected drugs, although the Act does not specify how CMS should weigh these different elements in the process of developing its offer for the maximum fair price. CMS has solicited feedback on approaches for considering these various elements.

The manufacturer-specific factors include:

• The manufacturer’s research and development costs and the extent to which the manufacturer has recouped these costs
• The current unit costs of production and distribution
• Federal financial support for novel therapeutic discovery and development related to the drug
• Data on pending and approved patent applications, exclusivities, and certain other applications and approvals
• Market data and revenue and sales volume data in the US

For the manufacturers of the 10 Part D selected drugs for 2026, these data elements are required to be reported to CMS by October 2, 2023.

Information about therapeutic alternatives includes:

• The extent to which the drug represents a therapeutic advance as compared to existing therapeutic alternatives and the costs of these alternatives
• Prescribing information for the drug and its therapeutic alternatives
• Comparative effectiveness of the drug and its therapeutic alternatives, taking into accounts their effects on specific populations, such as individuals with disabilities, the elderly, the terminally ill, children, and other patient populations
• The extent to which the drug and its therapeutic alternatives address unmet needs for a condition that is not adequately addressed by available therapy.

In its guidance, CMS indicates that information on these factors may be submitted by several entities, including the manufacturer of the selected drug, other manufacturers, people with Medicare, academic experts, clinicians, and other “interested parties.” Such submissions must be received by October 2, 2023 for the selected drugs for 2026. In addition, CMS states that it will review the literature and real-world evidence, conduct internal analysis, and consult with experts regarding evidence of the clinical benefits of the drug and its therapeutic alternatives.

The Act explicitly directs that the HHS Secretary “shall not use evidence from comparative clinical effectiveness research in a manner that treats extending the life of an elderly, disabled, or terminally ill individual as of lower value than extending the life of an individual who is younger, non-disabled, or not terminally ill.” In other words, the use of health outcomes evidence based on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in the process of negotiating a maximum fair price is not permitted. CMS has solicited comments on other similar metrics that CMS should exclude from consideration in the negotiation process.

Who is eligible to receive the maximum fair price?

For selected drugs covered under Part D that are dispensed directly to individuals by a retail or mail order pharmacy, Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Part D stand-alone drug prescription plans or Medicare Advantage plans offering drug coverage are eligible to receive the maximum fair price. For selected drugs covered under Part B that are administered to individuals in provider settings, Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part B, including those in both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, are eligible to receive the maximum fair price.

Is there a ceiling on the maximum fair price? Does it vary depending on the type of drug?

The Inflation Reduction Act establishes an upper limit for the maximum fair price for a given drug. The upper limit is the lower of the drug’s enrollment-weighted negotiated price (net of all price concessions, including rebates) for a Part D drug, the average sales price for a Part B drug (which is the average price to all non-federal purchasers in the U.S, inclusive of rebates, other than rebates paid under the Medicaid program), or a percentage of a drug’s average non-federal average manufacturer price (non-FAMP) (which is the average price wholesalers pay manufacturers for drugs distributed to non-federal purchasers). This percentage of non-FAMP varies depending on the number of years that have elapsed since FDA approval or licensure: 75% for small-molecule drugs and vaccines more than 9 years but less than 12 years beyond approval; 65% for drugs between 12 and 16 years beyond approval or licensure; and 40% for drugs more than 16 years beyond approval or licensure. In other words, the longer the drug has been on the market, the lower the ceiling on the maximum fair price.

How will CMS determine its initial offer for the maximum fair price for a selected drug?

To determine its initial offer for a maximum fair price for a selected drug, CMS intends to: 1) identify therapeutic alternative(s) for the selected drug; 2) determine pricing information about the therapeutic alternatives to determine the starting point for the initial offer; 3) adjust the initial offer based on information about clinical benefit of the selected drug compared to its therapeutic alternatives; 4) make further adjustments to the offer price as needed based on manufacturer-specific data to determine the initial offer price.

CMS plans to use the price of therapeutic alternative(s) as the starting point for determining the initial offer for the maximum fair price for a given selected drug. Specifically, CMS will use the price net of all price concessions (including rebates) for Part D drugs and/or the average sales price of Part B drugs that are therapeutic alternatives to the selected drug (unless these prices are above the statutory ceiling for the maximum fair price). If there is more than one therapeutic alternative for a selected drug, CMS would determine the starting point within the range of prices for those products. For selected drugs with no therapeutic alternative or where the price of the alternative(s) is above the ceiling price, CMS would use the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) or “Big Four Agency” price as the starting point. (Drug prices listed on the FSS, which establishes prices available to all direct federal purchasers, are determined through both statutory rules and negotiation. A statutory cap on drug prices for the Big Four agencies—the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Public Health Service, and the Coast Guard—means the prices they pay are generally lower than prices paid by other direct federal purchasers.) If the FSS or Big Four prices are above the statutory ceiling, CMS would use the statutory ceiling as the starting point for its initial offer. CMS has solicited comments on this or other possible approaches to determining a starting point for developing the initial offer.

CMS will adjust the starting point for the initial offer based on the “totality” of evidence about the clinical benefit the selected drug provides relative to its therapeutic alternatives, including information about potential safety concerns and side effects, whether the selected drug represents a therapeutic advance as measured by improvements in clinical outcomes, and information about the effects of the selected drug and alternatives on specific populations, including people with disabilities and older adults. If a selected drug has no therapeutic alternatives, CMS will consider the extent to which the selected drug fills an unmet medical need (i.e., the drug treats a disease or condition where very limited or no other treatment options exist). After considering information about clinical benefit, CMS will adjust its starting point for the initial offer price to arrive at a “preliminary price.”

After determining the preliminary price, CMS will take into account manufacturer-specific data points. These data, and their potential effect on the preliminary price, are as follows:

• Research and development (R&D) costs: if a manufacturer has recouped its R&D costs, CMS could adjust the preliminary price downward
• Current unit costs of production and distribution: if lower than the preliminary price, CMS could adjust the price downward
• Prior federal financial support: if discovery and development of the selected drug was supported by federal funding, CMS could adjust the preliminary price downward
• Patent information: if the selected drug is covered by patents and exclusivities with years remaining before they expire, CMS could adjust the preliminary price downward
• Market data and revenue and sales volume data: depending on how CMS’s preliminary price compares to other market pricing data for the selected drug, CMS could, for example, revise downward the preliminary price if it is higher than the average commercial net price

After making any necessary adjustments to the preliminary price based on a review of manufacturer-specific data, CMS will arrive at its initial offer for the maximum fair price.

What are the steps in the negotiation process between CMS and manufacturers of selected drugs?

CMS’s drug negotiation program guidance outlines several steps in the negotiation process. These steps, and the relevant dates for selected drugs for 2026, are:

1. CMS will make a written offer to the manufacturer of a selected drug with its initial offer of the maximum fair price no later than February 1, 2024. This written offer must include a justification for CMS’s initial offer based on the methodology used, including how CMS evaluated various data submitted by manufacturers and evidence about alternative therapies.
2. Manufacturers must respond to CMS’s initial offer in writing either accepting the offer or making a counteroffer within 30 days of receiving the initial offer (e.g., March 2, 2024, for initial offers made by CMS on February 1, 2024). The written counteroffer should include the manufacturer’s proposed maximum fair price, along with a justification for that amount and a response to CMS’s justification for its initial offer. If the manufacturer does not accept CMS’s initial offer, a written counteroffer must be submitted
3. CMS will provide a written response to the manufacturer in response to an optional written counteroffer, either accepting or rejecting the counteroffer, within 30 days (e.g., April 1, 2024, if the manufacturer’s counteroffer is made on March 2, 2024).
4. If CMS rejects the manufacturer’s counteroffer, up to 3 meetings could occur between CMS and the manufacturer to discuss offers and counteroffers and factors considered. The timeframe for negotiation meetings would end no later than June 30, 2024.
5. After any negotiation meetings between CMS and the manufacturer, CMS will make a final written offer for the maximum fair price no later than July 15, 2024.
6. Manufacturers consider CMS’s final offer and either accept or reject the offer in writing by July 31, 2024.

CMS is seeking comments on the proposed process for the offer and counteroffer exchange between CMS and manufacturers.

What is the timeline for key activities under the Medicare drug price negotiation program for 2026?

For the 10 Part D selected drugs with negotiated prices taking effect in 2026, Figure 1 outlines key dates and activities in the negotiation timeline.

What happens if a generic or biosimilar drug becomes available after a drug has been selected for negotiation?

Drugs are not eligible to be selected for negotiation if there is a generic or biosimilar using that drug as the reference product approved or licensed by the FDA and being marketed. (Authorized generics do not count for this purpose, since they are not technically generic drugs as that term is commonly used, but rather the same drug product as the brand-name drug but not labeled as such.) If a drug has already been selected for negotiation and CMS determines that a generic or biosimilar drug has been approved or licensed and is being marketed – either before or during the negotiation process – the negotiation process will not start or will be suspended. The drug will continue to be a selected drug and not replaced by another drug, but no maximum fair price will be negotiated. For this removal from the selected drug list to apply for 2026, CMS would need to make this determination between September 1, 2023 and August 1, 2024 (between the selected drug publication date and the end of the negotiation process.)

If CMS determines that a generic or biosimilar drug has been approved and marketed after a drug has been selected for negotiation and after a maximum fair price has been established, the maximum fair price will take effect, but depending on when the determination is made, that drug will no longer be a selected drug and the maximum fair price will not apply in subsequent years. For selected drugs for 2026, if the determination of generic drug availability is made between August 2, 2024 and March 31, 2026, the maximum fair price will only apply in 2026 and the drug will no longer be a selected drug for 2027; if the determination is made between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, the maximum fair price will apply in 2026 and 2027 and the drug will no longer be a selected drug for 2028.

Are there limitations on administrative or judicial review of various features of the drug price negotiation program?

The Act specifies several features of the drug price negotiation program that are not subject to administrative and judicial review, including:

• The determination of whether a drug is a qualifying single source drug
• The determination of whether a drug is a negotiation eligible drug
• The selection of drugs for negotiation
• The determination of the maximum fair price for a selected drug
• The determination of whether a drug is subject to renegotiation
• The determination of units of a drug or biological product for the purposes (where unit is defined as the lowest amount of the product that is dispensed)
• The determination of whether a drug qualifies for the biosimilar delay

How will people with Medicare benefit from the drug price negotiation program?

There is uncertainty about how many Medicare beneficiaries will see lower out-of-pocket drug costs in any given year under the drug price negotiation program and the magnitude of potential savings, since both will depend on which drugs are subject to the negotiation process and the price reductions achieved through the negotiation process relative to what prices would otherwise be. In addition, whether Part D enrollees pay lower out-of-pocket costs for a given Part D selected drug will depend in part on whether they pay flat copayment amounts or a coinsurance rate for the drug in their chosen Part D plan. If they pay coinsurance, they could see savings, assuming the negotiated maximum fair price is lower than their plan’s negotiated price.

Aside from the potential for out-of-pocket cost savings, the drug price negotiation program could improve Medicare Part D enrollees’ access to Part D drugs that are selected for negotiation, since Part D plans are required to cover all selected drugs with negotiated maximum fair prices. In the absence of this coverage requirement, it is possible that not all selected drugs would be covered on all Part D plan formularies. Part D plan formularies must follow CMS’s formulary guidelines and requirements, but, with the exception of drugs in the six so-called “protected classes,” plans can generally choose which drugs to cover and which drugs to exclude from their formularies.