(1/23, A20, Subscription Publication) editorializes that the provision in the fiscal bill, extending by two more years the exclusion of "certain oral drugs," including Amgen's Sensipar (cinacalcel), which was set "to expire in 2014," from Medicare's "more cost-effective bundled system," is a "disheartening example of how intense lobbying and financial contributions can distort the legislative process in Washington." The Times contends that although other pharmaceutical companies will "benefit financially from that delay, Amgen, which has 74 lobbyists in Washington, was the only company to lobby aggressively" for the postponement, which will "cost the Medicare program up to $500 million over a two-year period."Congressmen Seek To Close Amgen Loophole In Fiscal Cliff Bill.
The Los Angeles Times (1/25, Terhune) reports, "A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is seeking to repeal a Medicare-pricing provision in the recent 'fiscal cliff' deal that benefits biotech giant Amgen Inc." Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), "filed legislation this week to eliminate the exemption for a class of drugs, including Amgen's Sensipar, that are used by kidney dialysis patients." The fiscal cliff deal had "excluded these oral medications from Medicare price controls for an additional two years." Welch was joined by co-sponsors including Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY), Jim Cooper (D-TN), and Bruce Braley (D-IA).
(1/25, Terhune) reports, "A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is seeking to repeal a Medicare-pricing provision in the recent 'fiscal cliff' deal that benefits biotech giant Amgen Inc." Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), "filed legislation this week to eliminate the exemption for a class of drugs, including Amgen's Sensipar, that are used by kidney dialysis patients." The fiscal cliff deal had "excluded these oral medications from Medicare price controls for an additional two years." Welch was joined by co-sponsors including Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY), Jim Cooper (D-TN), and Bruce Braley (D-IA).
Amgen Responds To Legislation. The Hill (1/25, Baker) "Healthwatch" blog reports that Amgen "is defending a change in Medicare payments included in the recent fiscal-cliff deal and pushing back against a new bill to repeal that change." In a statement responding to Welch's legislation, the company said, "Amgen supports the current provision to delay including oral-only medications in the Medicare dialysis prospective payment system. Including oral-only medications in the payment system at the same time that the bundle is being rebased would have been disruptive to quality patient care." The statement continued, "A two-year delay provides [Medicare] with the time needed to develop quality metrics and further develop their data systems - both things pivotal to providing quality patient care."
(1/25, Baker) "Healthwatch" blog reports that Amgen "is defending a change in Medicare payments included in the recent fiscal-cliff deal and pushing back against a new bill to repeal that change." In a statement responding to Welch's legislation, the company said, "Amgen supports the current provision to delay including oral-only medications in the Medicare dialysis prospective payment system. Including oral-only medications in the payment system at the same time that the bundle is being rebased would have been disruptive to quality patient care." The statement continued, "A two-year delay provides [Medicare] with the time needed to develop quality metrics and further develop their data systems - both things pivotal to providing quality patient care."
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