CMS to modify, not withdraw Part B proposal

On Tuesday, acting CMS Deputy Administrator Patrick Conway deflected withering bipartisan criticism from U.S. Senate Finance Committee members of the agency's planned value-based Part B drug purchasing project. When asked directly if CMS plans to withdraw the proposed rule, Conway said CMS will evaluate public comments and intends to take them into account before finalizing the rule.

Part B covers drugs that are administered in a physician's office or a hospital outpatient facility, including most infused and injected drugs. Responding to a question from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Conway said CMS is not developing any plans to change the Part D drug program, which covers drugs purchased at retail pharmacies. ...