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
Darzalex, Medicare Negotiation And The Strategic Importance Of Combination Products
Second generation combination products may become more appealing as companies navigate the complexities of the Medicare price negotiation program.
PBM Execs Stay On Message Amid Growing US Congressional Frustration At Hearing
The House Oversight Committee held its third hearing on pharmacy benefit manager reforms in 14 months, but could not elicit an admission from executives that they are responsible for increasing drug prices.
Vertex Opens New Front In Patient Assistance Conflict Between Pharma, HHS Inspector General
Vertex’s fertility preservation assistance program would provide up to $70,000 in financial support for in vitro fertilization and other services to patients prescribed Casgevy.
Medicare Negotiation Round Two Will Be Dominated By Oral Cancer Drugs, Researchers Predict
A number of diabetes drugs are also expected to be targeted in the next cycle of the price negotiation program, led by Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic.
Pharma's 340B Legal Disputes Over Contract Pharmacies May Get A Boost With Chevron Ruling
But the overall impact of the Supreme Court decision may not seem as “immediate” in 340B compared to other federal programs.
FTC’s PBM Investigation Could Yield Litigation Over Insulin Contracting
The US Federal Trade Commission’s focus on potential anti-competitive behavior by pharmacy benefit managers picks up steam as Chair Lina Khan approaches the end of her term.