The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a sweeping climate, health care and tax bill was signed into law this summer.

While the IRA undeniably brings some great wins for patients, there are some significant complexities to consider regarding the health care financing and delivery system in the U.S. and the many ways in which this bill will impact patients. Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, delivers his analysis on the wins and misses of a bill as it relates to patients in the U.S.

“What I wish the bill did… is one: address the issue of formulary exclusions, and number 2: to have the patients benefit from the negotiated prices at the pharmacy. This is unbelievably unfair for patients! And this happens both with Medicare and with commercial plans,” says Dr. Robert Popovian.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:09: Listener comment

1:58: The IRA sets a $2,000 annual cap for beneficiaries' Part D spending

3:32: Starting next year, seniors will not pay out-of-pocket costs for any of the vaccines covered under their Medicare Part D program and reasons why that’s important for them

5:01: How the federal government missed an opportunity to address the issue of patients paying their co-insurance or deductible based on the retail price of the medicine rather than prices negotiated by PBMs on their behalf

5:45: Another issue that is not addressed in the bill is the growing number of formulary exclusions

6:49: Is there any clinical or economic justification for excluding certain medications from national PBM formularies or is it just about profitability?

8:25: An analysis on the bill’s negative impacts regarding drug innovation

9:12: Which classes of medicines and disease areas might be negatively impacted by the bill

10:02: Further discussion of the main issues that the IRA could have addressed and the impact on patients

12:20: The IRA also brings some great wins for patients

13:22: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: cmertens@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to healthcarematters@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a sweeping climate, health care and tax bill was signed into law this summer.
While the IRA undeniably brings some great wins for patients, there are some significant complexities to consider regarding the health care financing and delivery system in the U.S. and the many ways in which this bill will impact patients. Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, delivers his analysis on the wins and misses of a bill as it relates to patients in the U.S.
“What I wish the bill did… is one: address the issue of formulary exclusions, and number 2: to have the patients benefit from the negotiated prices at the pharmacy. This is unbelievably unfair for patients! And this happens both with Medicare and with commercial plans,” says Dr. Robert Popovian.
Among the highlights in this episode:
1:09: Listener comment
1:58: The IRA sets a $2,000 annual cap for beneficiaries' Part D spending
3:32: Starting next year, seniors will not pay out-of-pocket costs for any of the vaccines covered under their Medicare Part D program and reasons why that’s important for them
5:01: How the federal government missed an opportunity to address the issue of patients paying their co-insurance or deductible based on the retail price of the medicine rather than prices negotiated by PBMs on their behalf
5:45: Another issue that is not addressed in the bill is the growing number of formulary exclusions
6:49: Is there any clinical or economic justification for excluding certain medications from national PBM formularies or is it just about profitability?
8:25: An analysis on the bill’s negative impacts regarding drug innovation
9:12: Which classes of medicines and disease areas might be negatively impacted by the bill
10:02: Further discussion of the main issues that the IRA could have addressed and the impact on patients
12:20: The IRA also brings some great wins for patients
13:22: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts
Contact Our Hosts
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org">rpopovian@ghlf.org</a>
Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: <a href="mailto:cmertens@ghlf.org">cmertens@ghlf.org</a>
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to <a href="mailto:healthcarematters@ghlf.org">healthcarematters@ghlf.org</a>
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.