Medicare will only cover Biogen’s Alzheimer’s therapy Aduhelm during clinical trials, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday, finalizing a proposal from January. The announcement paves the way for CMS to reduce Medicare Part B premiums for 2022, which increased 15% from last year because of projected spending on the drug. Biogen slashed the price of the drug by nearly 50% to $28,200 in December in an effort to boost prescriptions. Critics contend the medication is still overvalued at its lower price, and some health systems won’t prescribe it due to doubts about its effectiveness. The medicine may cause headaches, falls or even bleeding in the brain, according to CMS. The drug is the first to obtain FDA approval. . . .
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