News — The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will host an expert briefing for the media to discuss the latest developments and policies in Medicare drug price negotiations, the role of pharmacy benefit managers, television advertising of prescription drugs, and more.
Prescription drugs made up 11% of total personal health services spending in 2022, according to the . In 2024, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services negotiated the price of on behalf of all Medicare beneficiaries, a first in the history of U.S. prescription drug pricing policy. The U.S. is one of two countries that allows drug makers to market directly to consumers. The U.S. is also the only country that uses pharmacy benefit managers to intermediate drug price negotiations among pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and pharmacies.
The live briefing will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 25, via Zoom and will feature two leading experts from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
, PhD, and , MD, PhD, will discuss:
- Rising prescription drug prices’ impacts on health care providers and patients, and other policy concerns.
- The debate over the role of pharmacy benefit managers.
- The second round of price negotiations for prescription drugs for Medicare patients.
- The inclusion of weight loss drugs in Medicare price negotiations, the likelihood they will remain on the list, and broader policy considerations.
- How tariffs and trade policies could affect drug supply chains, availability, and costs in the U.S. market.
- The idea of banning prescription drug ads and the ads’ effects on consumers and the marketplace.
- The role of state prescription drug affordability boards.
Experts:
- , PhD, is a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on health care spending, Medicare and Medicaid policy, and the management of chronic conditions. He is a member of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
- , MD, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on pharmaceutical policy, drug pricing, and access to prescription medications, including the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Registration required: Media should register by 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025, to receive the Zoom link and password for Tuesday’s briefing. Questions for the experts may be submitted via the registration form in advance or via chat during the briefing.
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