CMS rule should improve biosimilar Part D access, but isn’t silver bullet

A CMS rule change for Part D drugs isn’t a cure-all for getting around the barriers that have so far impeded the uptake of biosimilars on the U.S. market. But advocates say it’s a good first step toward preparing health plans to be able to provide better access once biosimilars covered under Part D start to come to market in the next few years.

Biosimilars launched in the U.S. to date have been physician-administered and therefore covered under Part B of Medicare. But there’s a raft of biosimilars waiting to come to market in the next few years that would fall under Part D...