Medicare Trustees lowered their estimated spending projections for retail drugs in large part because rebates are bigger than they expected, and the health insurance lobby says that finding bolsters their case against HHS’ plan to eliminate rebates.

A measure that would allow Florida to import prescription drugs from Canada is likely to pass the state legislature before it adjourns on May 3, the senate president’s office said Friday (April 19).

In the wake of a 35-day partial government shutdown that furloughed 41 percent of the agency’s staff earlier this year, a group of FDA policy experts sent a letter to the agency asking for more details on how much funding FDA had and from what sources; exactly how many personnel were exempted, excepted and furloughed throughout the shutdown; and how FDA is preparing for future shutdowns.

CMS on Friday (April 19) proposed to increase Medicare payments to hospices by 2.7% in fiscal 2020 as well as to modify the content of hospice election statements to better inform beneficiaries of exactly what services are provided, and which ones aren’t tied to their terminal illnesses.