Upton, Bucshon applaud end to Medicare pay change model for drugs

U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Fred Upton (R-MI) applauded the recent announcement that proposed changes to the Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model would be halted, an experiment that raised concerns of limiting access to care and increasing costs for seniors.

In response to bipartisan concerns about the proposed changes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Dec. 15 it would abandon a mandatory demonstration project for a new payment model that was proposed earlier this year.

In March, CMS released a rule that was developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) that would have implemented a mandatory new payment model experiment for drug reimbursements under Medicare Part B.

“This experiment would have disrupted care for the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries,” Bucshon, a physician, said. “I am happy the administration listened to the bipartisan concerns raised by members of Congress, patient advocates and physician groups by putting an end to this disastrous proposal.”

In May, Bucshon introduced legislation, H.R. 5122, to block the proposed changes.

Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the announcement was good news for seniors and the sickest Medicare patients that rely on critical care.

“After months of growing concerns, I’m glad the administration listened to America’s seniors and the Congress, and chose to withdraw this harmful Medicare experiment,” Upton said.