Cathy Kelly
Senior Writer
Cathy has covered US regulation and reimbursement policy for the biopharma industry since 2004, starting with the establishment of the Medicare Part D program. Since then, she has written extensively about developments in all major sectors of the US insurance market (Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans). She has covered key legislation affecting biopharma, including the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act which created Part D, health care reform under President Obama, and the Inflation Reduction Act which establishes a government price negotiation program in Medicare for the first time and redesigns of the Part D benefit.
She has closely followed the increasing influence of pharmacy benefit managers and their use of formulary negotiations and rebates to control pricing. Cathy also has covered developments in health technology assessments, including the growing influence of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, and has monitored industry progress on novel drug contracting that reflects value-based pricing.
She has worked as a health care reporter and editor while raising three daughters. Cathy lives outside DC in Bethesda, MD, with her husband Sean.
Latest From Cathy Kelly
Medicaid ‘Price Verification’ Audit Proposal Aims To Promote Cell, Gene Therapy Rebate Concessions
CMS proposed rule impact may be ‘modest’ but is framed as ensuring patient access to cutting edge treatments by helping to control Medicaid spending. Biden administration initiative also aims to address misclassification of brand drugs, duplicative 340B discounts, and PBM spread pricing.
Medicare Unlikely To Embrace Cost Effectiveness In Early Price Negotiations – ICER’s Pearson
The government’s rush to stand up the negotiation program by the fall likely means an approach to cost effectiveness will be left out of at least the first cycle. But it could be incorporated over time.
Lilly’s Dosing Scheme For Donanemab In Alzheimer’s And Treatment Cost Effectiveness
Firm’s aggressive approach to amyloid plaque removal means a shorter duration of treatment and potentially lower costs.
Senate Tax ‘Avoidance’ Hearing Presents PR Headache But Policy Change Is Distant Threat
Rather than entertaining revisions to the Trump tax cuts, Republicans on the Finance Committee instead challenged the Biden Administration's agreement with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development relating to a global minimum tax on multinational corporations.
Medicare And Alzheimer’s Drugs: Pressure To Relax Coverage Restrictions Rising Wtih Donanemab Data
Lilly's donanemab may be the second amyloid-targeting drug for Alzheimer’s headed toward a traditional US Food and Drug Administration approval this year, setting up a showdown with Medicare over its coverage with evidence development requirements.
Medicare Negotiation And The Politics Of Drug Pricing
Medicare pricing decisions will become ‘highly politicized,’ Scott Gottlieb predicts. The former FDA commissioner and CMS official also believes the program should rely on outside health technology assessment groups, and he offers his opinions on how negotiation will (or won’t) change patent litigation.