The Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) announced dates for public meetings to be held for the five drugs it may consider for upper payment limits (UPLs) during its meeting on Friday.
PDAB will consider the affordability of Enbrel, Genvoya, Cosentyx, Stelara, and Trikafta, and could consider recommending the drugs for UPLs. PDAB Director Lila Cummings said the meetings will give patients and caregivers a chance to provide input on the drugs. Coloradans can access the input sessions on the PDAB website during the following times:
- The session for Enbrel will be held on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
- The session for Genvoya will be held on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
- The session for Cosentyx will be held on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
- The session for Stelara will be held on Sept. 26th from 6 to 8 p.m.
- The session for Trikafta will be held on Sept. 27th from 6 to 8 p.m.
Several meeting attendees urged board members not to apply a UPL to Trikafta—which is used to treat cystic fibrosis—during the meeting’s public comment session, as they were concerned about a UPL affecting their access to the drug. Amanda Boone, who has cystic fibrosis, said she was concerned about the ability of people with the disease to understand the content that will be presented at the public input session.
“I do not feel these meetings are accessible for people in the cystic fibrosis community who do not understand this jargon and need it [presented to them] in layman’s terms. I’m trying to be here for my fellow cystic fibrosis community members who do not understand what this work means.”
— Boone
Several meeting attendees urged board members to attend the public input sessions, including Logan Roberts, who has cystic fibrosis.
“It creates an opportunity for them to understand, on a personal level, what’s going on with patients like me,” Roberts said.
PDAB Chair Dr. Gail Mizner assured those in attendance that PDAB would take the public’s interests into consideration, noting that she and her fellow board members have a significant amount of experience working with patients.
“We come face to face with people and know about their barriers to drugs,” Mizner said.
Cummings said PDAB will also consider input from two surveys. One survey is for patients and caregivers, and can be filled out here. The other survey is for individuals with scientific and medical training, and can be accessed here.
“Those surveys mimic the kind of focus group guide that will be used in the input meetings. We anticipate getting some quantitative data from the surveys. We’ve gotten some feedback we think has some credence and want to propose it to the board.”
— Cummings
Cummings also updated board members on federal decisions on drug affordability. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its inaugural list of prescription drugs eligible for negotiations to establish a maximum fair price on Aug. 29th. The list includes two drugs that the Colorado PDAB is considering for UPLs—Enbrel and Stelara.
Other drugs on the list include Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Imbruvica, Fiasp, Fiasp FlexTouch, Fiasp PenFill, NovoLog, NovoLog FlexPen, and NovoLog PenFill.