In general
Selection of drugs
In general
High spend part D drugs for 2026 and 2027
With respect to the initial price applicability year 2026 and with respect to the initial price applicability year 2027, the Secretary shall apply paragraph (1) as if the reference to “negotiation-eligible drugs described in subsection (d)(1)” were a reference to “negotiation-eligible drugs described in subsection (d)(1)(A)” and as if the reference to “total expenditures for such drugs under parts B and D of subchapter XVIII” were a reference to “total expenditures for such drugs under part D of subchapter XVIII”.
Inclusion of delayed biological products
Pursuant to subparagraphs (B)(ii)(I) and (C)(i) of subsection (f)(2), the Secretary shall select and include on the list published under subsection (a) the biological products described in such subparagraphs. Such biological products shall count towards the required number of drugs to be selected under subsection (a)(1).
Selected drug
In general
Clarification
Negotiation-eligible drug
In general
Part D high spend drugs
The qualifying single source drug is, determined in accordance with subsection (e)(2), among the 50 qualifying single source drugs with the highest total expenditures under part D of subchapter XVIII, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (3), during the most recent 12-month period for which data are available prior to such selected drug publication date (but ending no later than October 31 of the year prior to the year of such drug publication date).
Part B high spend drugs
The qualifying single source drug is, determined in accordance with subsection (e)(2), among the 50 qualifying single source drugs with the highest total expenditures under part B of subchapter XVIII, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (3), during such most recent 12-month period, as described in subparagraph (A).
Exception for small biotech drugs
In general
Part D drugs
Part B drugs
Clarifications relating to manufacturers
Aggregation rule
All persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as one manufacturer for purposes of this paragraph.
Limitation
section 1395w–114c(g)(4)(B)(ii) of this titleA drug shall not be considered to be a qualifying single source drug described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) if the manufacturer of such drug is acquired after 2021 by another manufacturer that does not meet the definition of a specified manufacturer under , effective at the beginning of the plan year immediately following such acquisition or, in the case of an acquisition before 2025, effective .
Drugs not included as small biotech drugs
A new formulation, such as an extended release formulation, of a qualifying single source drug shall not be considered a qualifying single source drug described in subparagraph (A).
Clarifications and determinations
Previously selected drugs and small biotech drugs excluded
Use of data
In determining whether a qualifying single source drug satisfies any of the criteria described in paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall use data that is aggregated across dosage forms and strengths of the drug, including new formulations of the drug, such as an extended release formulation, and not based on the specific formulation or package size or package type of the drug.
Qualifying single source drug
In general
Drug products
Biological products
Treatment of authorized generic drugs
In general
section 355(j) of title 21In the case of a qualifying single source drug described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) that is the listed drug (as such term is used in ) or a product described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (B), with respect to an authorized generic drug, in applying the provisions of this part, such authorized generic drug and such listed drug or such product shall be treated as the same qualifying single source drug.
Authorized generic drug defined
Exclusions
Certain orphan drugs
section 360bb of title 21A drug that is designated as a drug for only one rare disease or condition under and for which the only approved indication (or indications) is for such disease or condition.
Low spend medicare drugs
Plasma-derived products
A biological product that is derived from human whole blood or plasma.
Special rule to delay selection and negotiation of biologics for biosimilar market entry
Application
In general
section 1320f–3(c)(4) of this titlesection 262(k) of this titleSubject to subparagraph (B), in the case of a biological product that would (but for this subsection) be an extended-monopoly drug (as defined in ) included as a selected drug on the list published under subsection (a) with respect to an initial price applicability year, the rules described in paragraph (2) shall apply if the Secretary determines that there is a high likelihood (as described in paragraph (3)) that a biosimilar biological product (for which such biological product will be the reference product) will be licensed and marketed under before the date that is 2 years after the selected drug publication date with respect to such initial price applicability year.
Request required
In general
Information and documents
In general
Additional information and documents
After the Secretary has reviewed the request and materials submitted under subclause (I), the manufacturer shall submit any additional information and documents requested by the Secretary necessary to make determinations under this subsection.
Items described
Aggregation rule
In general
All persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or in a partnership, shall be treated as one manufacturer for purposes of paragraph (2)(D)(iv).
Partnership defined
In clause (i), the term “partnership” means a syndicate, group, pool, joint venture, or other organization through or by means of which any business, financial operation, or venture is carried on by the manufacturer of the biological product and the manufacturer of the biosimilar biological product.
Rules described
Delayed selection and negotiation for 1 year
If a determination of high likelihood is made under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall delay the inclusion of the biological product as a selected drug on the list published under subsection (a) until such list is published with respect to the initial price applicability year that is 1 year after the initial price applicability year for which the biological product would have been included as a selected drug on such list.
If not licensed and marketed during the initial delay
In general
Selection and negotiation
Second 1-year delay
If the Secretary determines that there is a high likelihood that such biosimilar biological product will be licensed and marketed (as described in clause (i)(I)) and a significant amount of progress has been made by the manufacturer of such biosimilar biological product towards such licensure and marketing (as described in clause (i)(II)), the Secretary shall delay the inclusion of the biological product as a selected drug on the list published under subsection (a) until the selected drug publication date of such list with respect to the initial price applicability year that is 2 years after the initial price applicability year for which such biological product would have been included as a selected drug on such list but for this subsection.
If not licensed and marketed during the year two delay
Limitations on delays
Limited to 2 years
In no case shall the Secretary delay the inclusion of a biological product on the list published under subsection (a) for more than 2 years.
Exclusion of biological products that transitioned to a long-monopoly drug during the delay
section 1320f–3(c)(5) of this titleIn the case of a biological product for which the inclusion on the list published pursuant to subsection (a) was delayed by 1 year under subparagraph (A) and for which there would have been a change in status to a long-monopoly drug (as defined in ) if such biological product had been a selected drug, in no case may the Secretary provide for a second 1-year delay under subparagraph (B)(iii).
Exclusion of biological products if more than 1 year since licensure
section 262(k) of this titleIn no case shall the Secretary delay the inclusion of a biological product on the list published under subsection (a) if more than 1 year has elapsed since the biosimilar biological product has been licensed under and marketing has not commenced for such biosimilar biological product.
Certain manufacturers of biosimilar biological products excluded
High likelihood
Rebate
In general
section 1320f–2 of this titleFor purposes of subparagraphs (B)(ii)(II) and (C)(ii) of paragraph (2), in the case of a biological product for which the inclusion on the list under subsection (a) was delayed under this subsection and for which the Secretary has negotiated and entered into an agreement under with respect to such biological product, the manufacturer shall be required to pay a rebate to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as determined by the Secretary.
Amount
Special rule for delayed biological products that are long-monopoly drugs
In general
section 1320f–3(c)(5) of this titleIn the case of a biological product with respect to which a rebate is required to be paid under this paragraph, if such biological product qualifies as a long-monopoly drug (as defined in ) at the time of its inclusion on the list published under subsection (a), in determining the amount of the rebate for such biological product under subparagraph (B), the amount described in clause (ii) shall be substituted for the maximum fair price described in clause (i)(I) or (ii)(I) of such subparagraph (B), as applicable.
Amount described
The amount described in this clause is an amount equal to 65 percent of the average non-Federal average manufacturer price for the biological product for 2021 (or, in the case that there is not an average non-Federal average manufacturer price available for such biological product for 2021, for the first full year following the market entry for such biological product), increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) from September 2021 (or December of such first full year following the market entry), as applicable, to September of the year prior to the selected drug publication date with respect to the initial price applicability year that would have applied but for this subsection.
Rebate deposits
Definitions of biosimilar biological product
section 1395w–3a(c)(6) of this titleIn this subsection, the term “biosimilar biological product” has the meaning given such term in .
Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531Pub. L. 117–169, title I136 Stat. 1836Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71203(a)139 Stat. 320(, title XI, § 1192, as added and amended , §§ 11001(a), 11002(a)(1), , , 1854; , , .)
Amendment of Subsection (e)
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71203139 Stat. 321section 1320f(b) of this title, , , provided that, applicable with respect to initial price applicability years (as defined in ) beginning on or after , subsection (e) of this section is amended as follows:
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “and (3)” and inserting “through (4)”
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)—
(A) by striking “only one rare disease or condition” and inserting “one or more rare diseases or conditions”; and
section 360bb(a)(2) of title 21(B) by striking “such disease or condition” and inserting “one or more such rare diseases or conditions (as such term is defined in )”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Treatment of former orphan drugs
“In the case of a drug or biological product that, as of the date of the approval or licensure of such drug or biological product, is a drug or biological product described in paragraph (3)(A), paragraph (1)(A)(ii) or (1)(B)(ii) (as applicable) shall apply as if the reference to ‘the date of such approval’ or ‘the date of such licensure’, respectively, were instead a reference to ‘the first day after the date of such approval for which such drug is not a drug described in paragraph (3)(A)’ or ‘the first day after the date of such licensure for which such biological product is not a biological product described in paragraph (3)(A)’, respectively.”
See 2025 Amendment notes below.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 52 of Title 26Section 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsecs. (d)(2)(B)(i) and (f)(1)(C)(i), is classified to , Internal Revenue Code.
Section 262(a) of this title, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(B)(ii)(I), was in the original “section 351(a) of such Act” and was translated as reading “section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
section 1112 of Pub. L. 108–173section 355 of Title 21Section 1112 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, referred to in subsec. (f)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(bb), is , which is set out in a note under , Food and Drugs.
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–21, § 71203(a)(1)2025—Subsec. (e)(1). , substituted “through (4)” for “and (3)”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 71203(a)(2)section 360bb(a)(2) of title 21Subsec. (e)(3)(A). , substituted “one or more rare diseases or conditions” for “only one rare disease or condition” and “one or more such rare diseases or conditions (as such term is defined in )” for “such disease or condition”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 71203(a)(3)Subsec. (e)(4). , added par. (4).
Pub. L. 117–169, § 11002(a)(1)(A)2022—Subsec. (a). , inserted “and subsection (b)(3)” after “the previous sentence” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 117–169, § 11002(a)(1)(B)(i)Subsec. (b)(1)(C). , added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 117–169, § 11002(a)(1)(B)(ii)Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3).
Pub. L. 117–169, § 11002(a)(1)(C)Subsec. (f). , added subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 71203(b)139 Stat. 321
Implementation for 2026 Through 2028
Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 11002(c)136 Stat. 1862