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What you need to know
- Medicare will begin negotiating prices in 2020 for Ozempic as well as 14 other drugs. The prices are set to go into effect by 2026.
- Medicare could be able to lower the prices of weight loss medications that cost nearly $1,000 each month.
- It's the second year in a row that Medicare will negotiate drug prices after the Inflation Reduction Act authorized it to do so in 2022.
Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug that is on the list for negotiations with the government this year, could be cheaper in 2027.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that Medicare would negotiate with drug manufacturers the prices of 15 drugs by 2025. These include weight-loss drugs Ozempic Weygovy and Rybelsus. The new prices will be implemented in 2027.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 authorized the program to negotiate drug prices for the second time. After the first negotiation round in 2024, 10 medications were reduced in price. This will go into effect in 2026. Medicare beneficiaries are expected to save $1.5 billion.
Second round is even more important, since it contains three substances in class “GLP-1 inhibitors” Many people are unable to afford the cost of these treatments, which have been proven effective in scientific studies for treating diabetes and obesity.
For example, a Senate hearing earlier this year found that U.S. residents pay $969 a month for Ozempic. Under a policy announced by the White House earlier this year, Medicare and Medicaid will start covering weight loss drugs in 2026.
Other drugs included in the list of negotiations for 2025 are:
- Trelegy Ellipta (COPD and Athsma)
- Xtandi (Prostate cancer)
- Pomalyst
- Ibrance is a breast cancer.
- Ofev (Lung disease)
- Linzess is a syndrome of irritable bowel syndrome.
- Calquence
- Austedo; Austedo XR (Symptoms of Huntington's disease)
- Breo Ellipta (Asthma)
- Tradjenta
- Xifaxan (Irritable bowel syndrome)
- Vraylar (Mental illness)
- Janumet; Janumet XR (Diabetes)
- Otezla (psoriasis)
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