Slavitt calls for increased transparency on drug prices

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt called for “increased transparency” of the information available about drug pricing and value during a Nov. 20 stakeholders meeting hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services on pharmaceutical innovation, access and affordability. Slavitt stated that there is not a common understanding of data, and drug costs are often unclear, making it “hard to have confidence that we have a truly functional and transparent market that delivers good value for patients.” The AHA participated in the forum, which featured a broad range of stakeholders who discussed opportunities to improve patient access to affordable prescription drugs, develop innovative purchasing strategies, and incorporate value-based and outcomes-based models into purchasing programs in both the public and private sectors.