• District of Columbia: According to an analysis from the AARP Public Policy Institute, the costs of brand-name drugs covered under Medicare Part D have almost doubled since they debuted on the market. Of these drugs, 25 of them, including Trulicity, Ozempic, Trelegy Ellipta, and more, have now increased in price by 98%. These 25 drugs also made up almost $50 billion in total Medicare Part D spending in 2022 and were used by more than 7 million Part D enrollees. According to AARP, these lifetime price increases were often much higher than the corresponding rate of general inflation. In addition, AARP said the findings highlight the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act and its provisions to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and penalize drug manufacturers if they raise the prices of the products faster than the rate of inflation. These provisions will help older adults avoid cost-coping strategies, such as not filling a prescription or skipping doses, to save money on medications, AARP said. (Lagasse, Healthcare Finance, 1/14)
• District of Columbia: Before leaving office on Monday, President Biden preemptively pardoned several top federal officials to protect against potential "revenge" from the Trump administration. Among the pardons were former NIAID director Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members and staff of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense," Biden said. "Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country." According to STAT, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump's choice to lead HHS, has said that he would prosecute Fauci "if there were crimes he committed." Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also suggested that Fauci could be charged with perjury based on his testimony to congressional panels about the origin of the COVID-19 virus, as well as the country's pandemic response. (Owermohle, STAT, 1/20; Associated Press/MedPage Today, 1/20)
• Maryland: Earlier this month, FDA issued a safety communication about the potential risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and GSK. Before the vaccines were approved, FDA had flagged them for potential GBS risks, and CDC has continued to monitor them after they were approved. After reviewing clinical trial data, reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and a postmarketing study, FDA determined that the overall evidence available suggested there were increased risks of GBS with the RSV vaccines. However, it could not be determined whether there was a causal relationship. The prescribing information for both vaccines has been updated to say that a postmarketing observational study suggests there may be an increased risk of GBS in the 42 days after vaccination. Currently, CDC recommends a single dose of any FDA-approved RSV vaccine for all adults ages 75 and older, as well as those between the ages of 60 and 74 who are at an increased risk of severe illness from RSV. (George, MedPage Today, 1/8)

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