Patients for Medicare Access is committed to educating policy makers and legislators to protect patients' access to life-saving drugs covered under Medicare Part B. The CMS proposed rule is a cost-saving effort that will limit treatment options for beneficiaries dealing with the most complex health conditions.
Ask your members of Congress to contact CMS to permanently withdraw the "Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model" from consideration.
Dear Senator/Representative,
I am reaching out about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) March 8, 2016 proposed rule that would implement a new payment model for drugs that treat complex conditions like cancer, macular degeneration, hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis.
The recently proposed "Medicare Part B Payment Model" rule, an initiative from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), focuses on drug costs rather than patients, outcomes and health care quality. While everyone is concerned about rising health care costs, a program that would have the effect of limiting Medicare patients' access to life-saving medications through the CMMI recommendation is not the answer. Medicare beneficiaries, along with their health care providers, should make decisions based on the best course of treatment for their complex conditions, not misguided payment incentives to use the lowest-cost drug.
If implemented, the proposed rule would have the effect of:
-Limiting provider and patient access to various drug/biologic regimens;
-Placing unnecessary burdens on physicians as they determine the best course of treatments for Medicare patients; and
-Rewarding use of the cheapest drugs rather than allowing physicians to focus on health outcomes.
The Medicare Part B Payment Model will significantly impact a wide variety of people from patients and providers to caregivers. Unfortunately, CMS provided a very small window for stakeholder groups to weigh in on this proposed update to Part B drug regulations; that is why I’m reaching out to you today. I urge you to contact CMS immediately to ask it to permanently withdraw the "Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model" from consideration. Thank you for addressing this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
