Cathy Kelly

Cathy Kelly

Senior Writer

Washington, DC

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

Dr. Oz Takes Over CMS Amid Major Transformation Of Medicare Part D

As CMS administrator, Mehmet Oz will oversee the second cycle of Medicare drug price negotiations and Part D redesign issues, but will have experienced deputies to help.

HHS Has ‘Utterly Failed,’ Kennedy Advisor Argues

Calley Means defended reductions in force at the Health and Human Services Department that shocked and outraged federal workers and stakeholders.

Dramatic HHS Layoffs A Response To ‘Existential Crisis,’ Kennedy Advisor Argues

Calley Means defended reductions in force at the Health and Human Services Department that shocked and outraged federal workers and stakeholders.

Think Tank Suggests CMS, USTR Could Enforce Most Favored Nation, Other Drug Pricing Policies

A Republican think tank suggested variations of the Most Favored Nation and international reference policies in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as tariffs and other trade levers to rebalance drug pricing disparities between US countries and abroad.

CMS Nominee Oz Nears Confirmation Despite Concerns About Medicaid Cuts

Democrats opposed the nomination because they believe Mehmet Oz will not defend Medicaid from spending cuts. His pledge to continue lowering drug costs in Medicare and Medicaid did not offset the concerns.

Stelara Biosimilars Storm US Market With 85% Discounts Ahead Of Price Drop In Medicare

The development could highlight the power of competitive market forces over government price controls or suggest Medicare price negotiation is enhancing competitive market forces.