Comment on CMS-2026-2080-0001

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. As a patient, I believe prescription-drug policy should be evaluated not only by the prices negotiated, but also by whether patients can consistently obtain safe, effective, and affordable medications. Medication is only truly accessible when patients can reliably obtain the medication prescribed by their healthcare professional without unnecessary delays, frequent substitutions, shortages, or other barriers that interrupt treatment. Continuity of treatment is especially important for medications that patients depend on every day. When patients report concerns about medication quality or effectiveness, there should be clear and responsive systems for investigating those concerns. Transparency, lot-level traceability, and effective post-market surveillance help protect patients and strengthen confidence in the medication supply. I encourage CMS to work with FDA and other federal partners to promote affordability while also supporting reliable access, supply-chain transparency, continuity of treatment, and patient safety. Lower costs should be accompanied by policies that help ensure medicines remain consistently available and that patient-reported quality concerns can be investigated efficiently. CMS should also consider access-related measures when evaluating the effects of negotiated prices, including shortages, treatment delays, forced substitutions, pharmacy availability, and patient out-of-pocket costs. Thank you for considering these comments and for your efforts to improve access to prescription medications for Medicare beneficiaries.