Comment on CMS-2026-2080-0001
Maya ThomasSupportIndividual
Summary: Maya Thomas, an oncology nurse, supports the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to reduce the high costs of cancer medications. She argues that lower drug prices will improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial toxicity that disproportionately affects lower-income individuals.
I am in favor of the implementation of a Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. While working as an oncology nurse for the past eight years, I have seen the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment to promote the best long-term outcomes for patients. However, the rising costs of various oral and intravenous chemotherapeutic agents has led to treatment delays and inequalities for patients (Malta et al., 2025). Patients are forced to decide between making payments to care for their family or purchasing their cancer medications. Unfortunately, this financial toxicity disproportionately affects those of lower socioeconomic status (Abdullah et al., 2025). By implementing legislation to combat these challenges by increasing access to care and decreasing the costs of FDA-approved prescription drugs, including those in “protected classes” like cancer drugs, oncology patients will be protected and their long-term outcomes improved. The program has the potential to impact the care of all patients suffering from debilitating diseases for years to come; and I strongly support its implementation. Thank you for your time.
Maya Thomas, RN, BSN
References
Abdullah, A., Liu, Z., & Molinari, M. (2025). From diagnosis to survivorship: The role of social determinants in cancer care. Cancers, 17(7), 1067–1067. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17071067
Malta, M., Christian, M., & Cadwallader, A. B. (2025). Oncology drug shortages: Impacts, policy reforms, and advocacy imperatives. The Cancer Journal, 31(5). https://doi.org/10.1097/ppo.0000000000000784