What do Avastin and Plan B have in common?
The answer is that both products received attention from both the FDA and HHS. One was a policy decision, the other a political.
During the FDA’s hearing on Avastin, HHS announce that “The label change will not affect our coverage.” (Actually, he should have said “potential label change,” but neither here nor there.)
That “Yes from HHS” was a policy decision that was also a savvy political one (had CMS withdrawn reimbursement for Avastin’s use in breast cancer, it would have become a front-and-center election issue).
On the other hand, Secretary Sebelius’ override of the FDA’s decision to allow unfettered OTC access for Plan B was a political decision thinly (and awkwardly) couched as a policy decision.
That’s the difference between policy and politics.