Medicare delayed price talks on AbbVie drug by seven years, advocacy group says
A policy tweak under the Trump administration postponed Medicare’s negotiation on a high-cost AbbVie medication for seven years, according to a consumer-advocacy analysis.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were preparing a new round of price negotiations for a limited set of drugs when a little-noticed rule change extended the waiting period for an expensive AbbVie product by seven years. The shift, made during the Trump administration, is said to have increased costs for taxpayers. The negotiation framework stems from the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022 to curb rising prescription-drug prices. The advocacy group argues the delay undermines the law’s intent.
Why it matters
The delay could raise Medicare spending on a costly drug, affecting taxpayers and patients.
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