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Health Law Scan

Legal Insights and Perspectives for the Healthcare Industry

In Unanticipated Move, HHS Ends FDA’s Unapproved Drug Initiative

HHS recently announced the forthcoming termination of FDA’s Unapproved Drugs Initiative (UDI), in an apparent effort to combat prescription drug shortages and price spikes. This announcement essentially walks back FDA’s enforcement approach regarding “marketed unapproved drugs,” allowing them to continue to be sold consistent with the 2006 FDA policy. Although the incoming Biden administration may ultimately decide to reinstitute the UDI program, unapproved drugs may be excluded from coverage by Medicare and Medicaid and by private health plans that follow federal plan coverage standards.

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