In the next phase of the Obama administration's other war on drugs, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a letter to the CEOs of four large drug providers (AbbVie, Gilead, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck), warning that "manufacturers have a role to play in ensuring access and affordability to these medications," asking for "value-based purchasing arrangements."

CMS Statement: ASSURING MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES ACCESS TO HEPATITIS C (HCV) DRUGS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains committed to Medicaid beneficiaries continuing to have access to needed prescribed medications, a commitment we know that states share.  We have issued a letter to advise states on the coverage of drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections.  Specifically, this letter addresses utilization of the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic HCV infected patients.

Manufacturers have a role to play in ensuring access and affordability to these medications.  CMS has sent a letter to the manufacturers of these HCV medications, asking them to provide information regarding any value-based purchasing arrangements they offer for these drugs so that states might be able to participate in such arrangements.