Medicare unveils new drug pricing guidelines and penalties for manufacturers.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new guidance outlining its criteria for negotiating drug prices for Part D beneficiaries. The guidance includes details on which drugs would qualify, with biosimilars and original brands for biosimilars excluded, and a resolution process for disputes. The agency will first identify the top 50 most expensive drugs to Medicare and then whittle down to the top 10 based on various criteria. The first 10 drugs to be negotiated will be revealed in September, with public input accepted until April 14. Experts have mixed reviews about the guidance, with some calling it a White House public relations stunt and others impressed with the depth of detail provided.