On behalf of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Executive Director John Clymer presented comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during a town hall on Medicare drug price negotiation for Janumet (sitagliptin and metformin).
In his remarks, Clymer highlighted Janumet’s once-daily combination therapy as a key advantage in supporting medication adherence, especially critical for older adults at risk for heart attack and stroke. He urged CMS to consider the real-life impact of drug coverage decisions, noting that when access is restricted or out-of-pocket costs rise, patients may skip doses or stop treatment entirely.
Clymer recommended that the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program:
- Center patient access and treatment adherence in its evaluations.
- Prioritize combination therapies that improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations.
- Ensure policies reflect the needs of diverse, high-risk patient populations.
