Page 11 - aruba-today-20220409

A11
business Saturday 9 april 2022
Medicare weighs premium cut after limiting Alzheimer’s drug

By RICARDO ALONSO- That was not the case left the company with
ZALDIVAR and MATTHEW with Aduhelm. It received just $3 million in sales from
PERRONE what’s known as “acceler- Aduhelm last year. Doctors
Associated Press ated” approval last year have been hesitant to pre-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Medi- because of its potential scribe it, given weak evi-
care said Thursday it’s con- promise. But manufacturer dence that the drug slows
sidering a cut in enrollee Biogen is required to con- the progression of Alzheim-
premiums, after officials duct a follow-up study to er’s. Insurers have blocked
stuck with an earlier deci- definitively answer whether or restricted coverage over
sion to sharply limit cover- Aduhelm truly slows the the drug’s high price tag
age for a pricey new Al- progression of Alzheimer’s. and uncertain benefit.
zheimer’s drug projected If that study is successful, The CMS decision means
to drive up program costs. FDA would grant full ap- that for Medicare to pay,
The agency “is looking proval. patients taking Aduhelm
at that, and is still go- That would also open up will have to be part of clini-
ing through the process,” The Biogen Inc., headquarters, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Medicare coverage. cal trials to assess the drug’s
spokeswoman Beth Lynk Cambridge, Mass. Dr. Lee Fleisher, chief medi- safety and effectiveness in
said of a potential reduc- Associated Press cal officer of the Centers slowing the progression of
tion in premiums, as Medi- for Medicare & Medicaid early-stage dementia.
care announced its final Medicare recipients signed promises to cut prescrip- Services, said “there will be Tamara Syrek Jensen, head
coverage decision for up for the program’s out- tion drug costs, unless they quick access for Medicare of CMS’s coverage and
Aduhelm, a drug whose patient coverage benefit. can overcome internal dis- beneficiaries” for Alzheim- analysis unit, said “it’s status
benefits have been widely Lawmakers have called for agreements. Most Medi- er’s drugs that receive the quo” as far as limitations the
questioned in the medical a rollback and Health and care recipients have their traditional FDA approval, agency initially imposed on
community. Human Services Secretary premiums deducted from after demonstrating a clear Aduhelm in January.
Officials said Medicare will Xavier Becerra already di- their monthly Social Secu- benefit. The limits stayed on despite
keep coverage restrictions rected Medicare to reas- rity checks. And despite a Aduhelm hit the market as a massive lobbying push by
imposed earlier on the sess. big cost-of-living increase, the first new Alzheimer’s the Alzheimer’s Association
$28,000-a-year medication, Thursday’s coverage deci- they’re feeling the bite of medication in nearly two to change Medicare’s po-
paying for Aduhelm only sion illustrates the impact inflation. decades. Initially priced at sition, including outreach
when it’s used in clinical tri- that a single medication Medicare’s determination $56,000 a year, it was ex- to members of Congress,
als approved by the Food can have on the budgets on Aduhelm included an pected to quickly become online advertising and so-
and Drug Administration of individuals and taxpay- important caveat. Officials a blockbuster drug, gen- cial media campaigns di-
or the National Institutes of ers. It comes as legislation said that if it or any other erating billions for Cam- rected at the agency.
Health. to authorize Medicare to similar drug in its class were bridge, Mass.-based Bio- The association, the larg-
The projected cost of negotiate prescription drug to receive what’s called gen. est group of its kind, has re-
Aduhelm was a major driv- prices remains stuck in the “traditional” FDA approval, But although the com- ceived contributions from
er behind a $22 increase in Senate, part of President then Medicare would open pany slashed the price in drugmakers, including Bio-
Medicare’s Part B premi- Joe Biden’s stalled social up broader coverage for half — to $28,000 a year — gen.
um this year, boosting it to and climate agenda. patients. Such approval is Aduhelm’s rollout has been The group’s CEO said he
$170.10 a month. That price That’s left Democrats with granted when a medica- disastrous. was “very disappointed”
hike is already being paid nothing to show on their tion shows a clear clinical Pushback from politicians, after reviewing Medicare’s
by more than 56 million midterm election-year benefit. physicians and insurers decision.q

McDonald’s investors will consider civil

rights audit

By DEE-ANN DURBIN provide recommendations the company of discrimina-
AP Business Writer for improvement. tion.
McDonald’s investors will SOC backed a similar pro- SOC also faulted the com-
consider a proposal for a posal at Apple’s annual pany for reporting diversity
civil rights audit of the com- meeting in March. Apple data only for its company-
pany after the federal gov- shareholders voted in favor owned U.S. stores, even
ernment denied McDon- of a civil rights audit over though 95% of its stores are
ald’s request to remove the the Cupertino, California- owned and operated by
proposal from the agenda based company’s objec- franchisees.
at its annual meeting. tions. McDonald’s annual “We urge McDonald’s to
SOC Investment Group, meeting hasn’t yet been assess its behavior through
a shareholder advocacy scheduled but is generally a civil rights lens to obtain In this April 20, 2006 file photo, a McDonald’s restaurant logo
and golden arch is lit in Chicago’.
group that supports union held in May. a complete picture of how Associated Press
pension funds, submitted In its proposal, SOC noted it contributes to social and
the proposal for a vote at more than 50 complaints economic inequality,” SOC ly reporting on its civil rights franchisees from historically
McDonald’s annual meet- and lawsuits alleging sexu- wrote in the proxy state- record could harm its legal underrepresented groups
ing. The proposal, which is al harassment at the com- ment. defense in multiple lawsuits. and new requirements for
one of 10 listed on McDon- pany’s restaurants over the In a letter sent in January to The Chicago-based com- anti-harassment training at
ald’s proxy statement, asks last six years. It also said the U.S. Securities and Ex- pany also noted its ongo- its stores worldwide.
McDonald’s board to over- multiple lawsuits against change Commission, Mc- ing efforts to promote di- The company said it has
see a third-party audit that the company have been Donald’s asked to remove versity, including a $250 also set a goal of gender
would analyze the compa- filed by Black franchisees the proposal from its proxy million commitment to parity in its leadership posi-
ny’s civil rights record and and executives accusing statement because public- increase the number of tions by the end of 2030.q