So far, HHS has received 18,000 comments on its proposal to overhaul the rebate system in the U.S., which is six times more comments than the government agency received on its entire drug pricing plan released last May, according to a STAT news report.
The proposal seeks to eliminate rebates, the discount drugmakers pay to pharmacy benefit managers and insurers in exchange for favorable placement on a drug formulary. The regulation would effectively overhaul how PBMs are paid.
The deluge of comments is the latest sign of the intense interest in the proposal, which will likely end up in court if it is implemented.
What's surprising about the number is that many of the groups with high stakes in the matter, specific PBMs, trade associations and individual drug companies, told STAT that they have yet to submit their comments, which are due next month.
While the comments themselves are not publically available, STAT suspects the number is high because of a write-in campaign organized by a group that has a stake in the proposed regulation.
Read the full report here.