CMS issues guidelines for negotiation on 10 highest-priced drugs

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it will select the Medicare program's 10 costliest prescription medicines based on gross spending for negotiating price cuts that will go into effect in 2026, Reuters reports. CMS will only accept one formal written counteroffer during the negotiation process but will allow up to three additional in-person or virtual negotiation meetings, the agency said in initial guidance issued on March 15 for its Medicare drug price negotiation program.