Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma Statement on ‘American Patients First’ Blueprint

CMS Administrator Seema Verma issued the following statement:

“I am honored to work for a President who is unafraid to take bold actions to put American patients first. Americans, especially our seniors, feel the pain from skyrocketing drug prices. In our system, everyone is winning except for the patient. CMS makes up 40% of all drug spending in America, and we will continue using our leverage to increase competition and strengthen negotiations in order to lower drug prices.”

To learn more about today’s announcement, visit: www.hhs.gov/drugpricing.

For more information on steps that CMS has already taken to lower drug costs:

• Speech: Remarks by CMS Administrator Seema Verma at the American Hospital Association Annual Membership Meeting
• CMS Lowers the Cost of Prescription Drugs for Medicare Beneficiaries
• CMS Finalizes Policies that Reduce Provider Burden, Lower Drug Prices
• CMS Finalizes Policies that Lower Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs and Increase Access to High-Quality Care
• CMS Administrator: EpiPen Agreement Protects Medicaid Integrity, Saves Hundreds of Millions of Dollars