HEALTH
Medicare price negotiations: These are the first 10 prescription drugs | What are they for?
The White House has released its list of medicines that the Medicare program is allowed to negotiate prices for, reducing costs for millions of people.
As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year, the Medicare program was given extra powers. At present, the country’s largest healthcare provider cannot negotiate the price of drugs it purchases, leaving prices at the whim of drug providers.
It will have this power from 2026, reducing costs for patients due to the immense power it will wield. The program aims to save $25 billion per year on drug prices by 2031.
Though it doesn’t have this power yet, it starts in 2026, the Biden administration released the list of the 10 drugs that Medicare has power over.
The list of the drus that Medicare can negotiate the price in 2026
Eliquis
The blood thinner is used to prevent blood clots and strokes. Approved by the FDA in 2012, it works by inhibiting blood clot formation.
Jardiance
The diabetes drug belongs to the class of drugs known as SGLT-2 inhibitors, which lower blood sugar levels by causing the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine.
Xarelto
It is used to prevent blood clots, reducing the risk of stroke and deep vein thrombosis.
Januvia
Januvia helps lower blood sugar levels by increasing the release of insulin and decreasing the production of glucose in the liver. It is often prescribed alongside diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Farxiga
Another diabetes drug.
Entresto
Entresto works by relaxing blood vessels and reducing the strain on the heart, thereby improving its pumping ability. It is often prescribed to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death in patients with heart failure.
Enbrel
Enbrel is a medication approved by the FDA in 1998 for treating autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Imbruvia
It belongs to a class of drugs known as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, which work by blocking signals that promote cancer cell growth.
Stelara
The medication used to treat autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease.
Insulin Aspart
Insulin Aspart is a rapid-acting insulin analog used to manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It starts working quickly after injection to control post-meal blood glucose spikes and is used to combat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.