A small item from BioCentury that deserves more attention:
Drug companies will be able to provide copay assistance to consumers who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's exchanges. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the decision in a letter sent on Wednesday to Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), resolving a major uncertainty about the healthcare law. Under federal kickback laws, drug companies are not permitted to provide copay assistance directly to consumers insured by federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. According to Sebelius' letter, HHS does not consider qualified health plans purchased through federal or state exchanges to be federal health programs.
