Democrats hint at CMS drug cost policies

Five U.S. Senate Democrats sent a letter Thursday to ask acting CMS Administrator Andrew Slavitt for information on how the agency plans to reduce prescription drug costs.

The letter from Mark Warner (Va.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) and Tim Kaine (Va.) hints at options the Obama administration may be considering, including changing the system for reimbursing drugs under Medicare Part B based on paying physicians and hospitals a fee equal to 6% of a drug's average sales price (ASP). ...