The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just announced that 15 high-cost prescription drugs used by millions of Medicare beneficiaries have been selected for price negotiations under Medicare, with new prices set to take effect in 2028 (yes, you'll have to wait a couple of years).
Between November 2024 and October 2025, about 1.8 million people with Medicare Part B or Part D relied on these medications to treat serious and chronic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, asthma, and mental health conditions.
Together, the drugs accounted for roughly $27 billion in Medicare prescription spending, or about 6% of total Part B and Part D drug costs during that period.
This marks the third round of negotiations under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, created to help rein in drug costs that have historically risen faster than inflation — especially for seniors on fixed incomes.
Drugs Selected for 2028 Price Negotiations
- Anoro Ellipta
- Biktarvy
- Botox; Botox Cosmetic
- Cimzia
- Cosentyx
- Entyvio
- Erleada
- Kisqali
- Lenvima
- Orencia
- Rexulti
- Trulicity
- Verzenio
- Xeljanz; Xeljanz XR
- Xolair
CMS also announced that Tradjenta, a diabetes drug, has been selected for renegotiation.
What This Means for Seniors
Negotiated prices won’t appear overnight, but once implemented, they are expected to lower out-of-pocket costs, especially for people managing long-term or complex health conditions. CMS has emphasized that negotiations are focused on widely used, high-spending drugs where savings can have the greatest impact.
Smart Senior Daily will continue tracking which medications see the biggest price reductions — and what that means for your monthly pharmacy bill.
