January 28, 2026
On January 27, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the next round of 15 medications subject to Medicare negotiation. More details are available on the CMS website, but the list of drugs selected for negotiation is Anoro Ellipta, Biktarvy, Botox, Cimzia, Cosentyx, Entyvio, Erleada, Kisqali, Lenvima, Orencia, Rexulti, Trulicity, Verzenio, Xeljanz, and Xolair and Tradjenta was selected for renegotiation. The selected drugs are used to treat a variety of diseases, including diabetes, HIV, arthritis, psoriasis, cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, migraine, asthma, depression, dementia, Schizophrenia, and heart disease.
IPAY 2028: Drug Selection and Patient Access
In response to CMS’s release of the next round of drugs selected for Medicare negotiation under IPAY 2028, the EACH/PIC Coalition emphasized that selecting individual drugs for negotiation does not directly address the affordability challenges patients experience or ensure continued access to care.
“Focusing on individual drug prices misses the real question patients are asking, whether these policies will improve their affordability of and access to the treatments they rely on,” said Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, Coalition Lead for EACH/PIC. “Affordability efforts should start with patient experience and the barriers patients face, not with a list of drugs.”
IPAY 2026: Implementation and Real-World Impact
As negotiated prices for the first set of drugs under IPAY 2026 take effect this year, EACH is closely monitoring how implementation is influencing coverage decisions, formulary placement, and utilization management.
“Unfortunately, government price setting does not necessarily mean patients will see any decrease in the cost of their medications; however, their ability to maintain their preferred treatments could be jeopardized by these policies,” Westrich-Robertson said. “As the negotiation program moves from theory to implementation, CMS must closely examine how insurers respond and whether those responses create new barriers for patients who rely on these medications every day.”
Patient Alert: Get Involved
We strongly encourage patients and caregivers to participate in the IPAY 2028 round of patient roundtables this spring and to share their experiences directly with CMS staff. Patients interested in participating are encouraged to contact Vanessa Lathan at the Patient Inclusion Council (PIC) for more information on how to engage.
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The Ensuring Access through Collaborative Health (EACH) and Patient Inclusion Council (PIC) is a two-part coalition that unites patient organizations and allied groups (EACH), as well as patients and caregivers (PIC), to advocate for drug affordability policies that benefit patients.