CMS finalizes 2015 call letter

In a final (see BioCentury, Feb. 17).

Insurers and pharmacies routinely reach exclusive deals that allow plans to offer drug discounts to seniors who use a preferred pharmacy. CMS was hoping to open the preferred networks and their subsequent discounts to a broader number of pharmacies, and thus more patients. In the final call letter, the agency said it will continue to monitor beneficiary access to preferred cost sharing in plans and take "appropriate action" on any plan whose network of pharmacies offering appears to offer "too little meaningful" access to the preferred cost sharing. ...