Medicare co-pays for COVID-19 mAbs scrapped, bamlanivimab distribution begins

The Trump administration has found a way to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries who receive COVID-19 mAbs, removing a potential barrier to treatment. The announcement came a day after FDA granted emergency use authorization to Lilly’s bamlanivimab and as hospitals and health departments around the country ramp up to meet the substantial logistical and financial challenges associated with administering mAbs.

The Medicare work-around, which involves classifying mAbs as vaccines for purposes of reimbursement, was announced Tuesday night as the first hospitals around the country prepared for the first shipments of bamlanivimab from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) and AbCellera Biologics Inc. ...