The Israeli occupation army launched air strikes in southern Lebanon overnight Sunday-Monday,after it launched 14 raids on areas in the south and east of the country.
The occupation daily violates the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, which has been in effect since late November 2024, resulting in hundreds of martyrs and wounded, and also widespread destruction.
According too the National News Agency, israeli warplanes raided the heights of ‘Aqmata outside Al-Lawiza in the Tire region in southern Lebanon after midnight.
استهدفت الغارة الإسرائيلية مرتفعات عقماتا بخراج اللويزة في إقليم التفاح جنوبي لبنان – الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام
واستهدفت الغارات الإسرائيلية الـ14 أمس الأحد: مرتفعات ميدون بالبقاع الغربي شرقي لبنان، والجبور وبين مرتفعات الريحان واللويزة بقضاء جزين بمحافظة الجنوب، وكسارة العروش بمحافظة الجنوب أيضًا، ومنطقة وادي برغز بمحافظة النبطية.
وفي وقت سابق الأحد، اُستشهد شخصان وأصيب ستة جراء غارات شنها الجيش الإسرائيلي على ثلاث بلدات في جنوب وشرق لبنان.
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What Does the Inflation Reduction Act Do Regarding Prescription Drug Prices?
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The Inflation Reduction act directly authorizes Medicare to negotiate the prices of certain prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies, starting with a limited number of drugs in 2026 and expanding over time. This negotiation process is intended to secure lower prices for beneficiaries and reduce overall healthcare spending.
Prior to the IRA, Medicare was largely prohibited from directly negotiating drug prices, unlike many other developed countries. Pharmaceutical companies maintained significant control over pricing. The IRA changes this dynamic by empowering the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to select drugs for negotiation based on factors like high expenditure and lack of generic or biosimilar competition. The negotiated prices will be available to all Medicare beneficiaries.
Example: The first 10 drugs selected for price negotiation were announced on August 29, 2023, and include medications for diabetes, heart failure, and blood clots. Details on these drugs and the negotiation process are available on the CMS website.
Which Drugs are Eligible for Negotiation?
Not all drugs are eligible for negotiation under the IRA. The law focuses on single-source brand-name drugs – those without generic or biosimilar competition – that account for a significant portion of medicare spending. Drugs protected by orphan drug exclusivity, or those with sales below a certain threshold, are generally excluded.
The selection process prioritizes drugs that have been on the market for a certain period (generally 7 years for small molecule drugs and 11 years for biologics) to avoid hindering innovation. The CMS outlines the specific criteria and process for drug selection on its website.
Detail: The IRA phases in the number of drugs subject to negotiation over time. In 2026,10 drugs will be negotiated,increasing to 15 drugs in 2027,20 drugs in 2028,and 25 drugs in 2029. This phased approach aims to balance cost savings with continued pharmaceutical innovation.
What is the Potential Impact on Pharmaceutical Companies?
The IRA’s drug price negotiation provisions are expected to considerably impact pharmaceutical companies’ revenue. Companies may respond by reducing research and advancement spending, shifting focus to drugs not subject to negotiation, or challenging the law in court.
Several pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co. and Johnson & Johnson, have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the drug price negotiation provisions, arguing they violate the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause.These cases are currently being litigated.
Evidence: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the IRA will reduce federal drug spending by approximately $101.4 billion over ten years (2023-2032). This estimate reflects the anticipated savings from lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare.
What Other Provisions of the IRA Affect Healthcare Costs?
Beyond drug price negotiation, the IRA includes several other provisions aimed at lowering healthcare costs. These include extending enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, capping insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries, and investing in programs to expand access to affordable healthcare.
Specifically,the IRA caps the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries.This provision whent into effect on January 1, 2023. The law also extends the enhanced premium tax credits first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing millions of Americans from losing health insurance coverage.
Example: The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) estimates that the extension of ACA subsidies will prevent approximately 3.1 million people from becoming uninsured in 2023.
