Trump Plan for $200 Medicare Drug Cards Advances, Though Hurdles Remain

CNBC News reports that an industry group that ensures regulatory standards are met for health-benefit cards approved President Trump's long-promised $200 Medicare drug-discount cards earlier this week. While this is an important step, other complications loom. For one, the Trump administration would need a plan to let some 39 million beneficiaries know the cards are on the way, and it is uncertain how many could be shipped before Trump's term ends. The Biden administration is not expected to support the cards, which have come under fire for their $7.9 billion cost and dubious legality. The White House insists the cards would be covered under a Medicare program that is generally designed to test innovations to reduce prices or enhance healthcare. The concept involves measuring whether the extra money would improve a person's ability to take drugs as prescribed because they could better afford them. Medicare has no out-of-pocket limit for Part D prescription drug costs, but lower-income beneficiaries already get additional help and appear to be omitted from this proposal. "At this point, a $200 drug card looks more like a party favor than a serious attempt to address drug costs or test strategies to improve adherence to a drug regimen," said Tricia Neuman at the Kaiser Family Foundation.