Step Therapy For Medicare Part B Drugs Will Lower Costs By 20%, HHS Projects

Beginning in 2019, Medicare Advantage plans may use step therapy in Part B, potentially including “cross management” with Part D drugs, under new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Businessman are stepping up the stairs. Ideas stepped through obstacles. Mind your step concept.

The Trump Administration expects that allowing Medicare Advantage plans to use step therapy to manage Part B drugs could save 15% to 20% in annual costs on average, according to Dan Best, senior advisor to HHS Secretary Alex Azar for drug pricing reform.

His estimate is based on the savings typically generated through use of step therapy by commercial plans for similar categories of physician-administered drugs. Best offered the projection during an Aug....

More from Pricing Debate

More from Market Access