Dr. Meena Seshamani

So one big piece of that was enabling Medicare to finally negotiate directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers on high-cost drugs. Previously, Medicare could not negotiate directly

And so this is a very important opportunity for us to be able to reward the kind of innovation and enable people to have access to that innovation for cures and therapies that people need at a price that they can afford. And in standing up that program, we had to do it in two years. So really engaging people. drug companies, patients, clinicians, health plans.

And so this is a very important opportunity for us to be able to reward the kind of innovation and enable people to have access to that innovation for cures and therapies that people need at a price that they can afford. And in standing up that program, we had to do it in two years. So really engaging people. drug companies, patients, clinicians, health plans.

And so this is a very important opportunity for us to be able to reward the kind of innovation and enable people to have access to that innovation for cures and therapies that people need at a price that they can afford. And in standing up that program, we had to do it in two years. So really engaging people. drug companies, patients, clinicians, health plans.

How do we set this up in a way that really encourages that innovation for what people need to see, those breakthrough therapies, and also enable people to have access to them? Because you can have all of these innovations, but if people can't access it, then is it really going to help improve the health of populations?

How do we set this up in a way that really encourages that innovation for what people need to see, those breakthrough therapies, and also enable people to have access to them? Because you can have all of these innovations, but if people can't access it, then is it really going to help improve the health of populations?

How do we set this up in a way that really encourages that innovation for what people need to see, those breakthrough therapies, and also enable people to have access to them? Because you can have all of these innovations, but if people can't access it, then is it really going to help improve the health of populations?

And in the first year alone, we had participation for all 10 drugs that were selected, high-cost drugs, common blood thinners that are used, diabetes medications. And we estimated that had those negotiated prices been in place in 2023, it would have saved the Medicare program $6 billion. But even more importantly, I think, it would have saved...

And in the first year alone, we had participation for all 10 drugs that were selected, high-cost drugs, common blood thinners that are used, diabetes medications. And we estimated that had those negotiated prices been in place in 2023, it would have saved the Medicare program $6 billion. But even more importantly, I think, it would have saved...

And in the first year alone, we had participation for all 10 drugs that were selected, high-cost drugs, common blood thinners that are used, diabetes medications. And we estimated that had those negotiated prices been in place in 2023, it would have saved the Medicare program $6 billion. But even more importantly, I think, it would have saved...

People with Medicare out of their own pockets, $1.5 billion. And this really resonates with me because before I took the role leading Medicare, I had one woman who was on Medicare and we would get on our smartphones on GoodRx so that I could try to prescribe her an antibiotic that she could actually afford.

People with Medicare out of their own pockets, $1.5 billion. And this really resonates with me because before I took the role leading Medicare, I had one woman who was on Medicare and we would get on our smartphones on GoodRx so that I could try to prescribe her an antibiotic that she could actually afford.

People with Medicare out of their own pockets, $1.5 billion. And this really resonates with me because before I took the role leading Medicare, I had one woman who was on Medicare and we would get on our smartphones on GoodRx so that I could try to prescribe her an antibiotic that she could actually afford.

Now, another provision is that no one pays more than $2,000 in the calendar year for their prescription drugs. So again, this is just one of many examples of where we were able to bring significant improvements to the Medicare program for the 68 million people in this country who really rely on this program to be able to stay healthy and well.

Now, another provision is that no one pays more than $2,000 in the calendar year for their prescription drugs. So again, this is just one of many examples of where we were able to bring significant improvements to the Medicare program for the 68 million people in this country who really rely on this program to be able to stay healthy and well.

Now, another provision is that no one pays more than $2,000 in the calendar year for their prescription drugs. So again, this is just one of many examples of where we were able to bring significant improvements to the Medicare program for the 68 million people in this country who really rely on this program to be able to stay healthy and well.

Well, I think this is where... Medicare really is, and I would say many government programs, there are three levels to them. There's the law that establishes these programs. That's like the 50,000 foot level that gives the creation of a program and the general framework and the legal authorities for implementing a program.

Well, I think this is where... Medicare really is, and I would say many government programs, there are three levels to them. There's the law that establishes these programs. That's like the 50,000 foot level that gives the creation of a program and the general framework and the legal authorities for implementing a program.

Well, I think this is where... Medicare really is, and I would say many government programs, there are three levels to them. There's the law that establishes these programs. That's like the 50,000 foot level that gives the creation of a program and the general framework and the legal authorities for implementing a program.

Then you have the regulations that happen in the executive branch of governments. That's more at the 25,000-foot level, which is where I was when I was leading Medicare and which is where I am now leading the Department of Health in Maryland, where we have legal authorities that are given to us by the legislature. Then how do we implement that to enable people