Insights | Meridian Research Group | Page 3

Drug Pricing/Coverage (GLP-1s)

The CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) announced the Better Approaches to Lifestyle & Nutrition for Comprehensive Health (BALANCE) model, which will test Medicare/Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss purposes.

Most Favored Nation Deals, Medicare Pricing (GLOBE/GUARD)

On Friday, the White House announced it has reached voluntary drug price reduction agreements with another nine drugmakers. Shortly after that announcement, the CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released proposed rules governing two payment models (GLOBE and GUARD) that will impose most-favored-nation (MFN) pricing in the...

Mergers & Acquisitions

NEC Netcracker/CSG Systems

The transaction’s initial 30-day HSR waiting period is scheduled to expire on January 5. We believe that there is a likelihood of a second request. Feedback from industry participants (who are not involved in the deal) suggests that the merger would combine the two largest providers of bespoke business support systems (BSS) for cable television...

Mergers & Acquisitions

The transaction’s initial 30-day HSR waiting period is scheduled to expire on January 5. We continue to believe that there is a likelihood of a second request given the breadth of highly concentrated product overlap in both handset RFFE modules and Wi-Fi gateway RFFE modules. However, new input from customers of Wi-Fi gateway RFFE modules...

Housing Affordability Initiatives

The White House has recognized that President Trump’s approval rating on the economy has notably deteriorated and that they need to take actions to address voter concern about affordability in order for Republicans to avoid significant losses in the midterm elections. Housing is among the areas the White House has targeted, with NEC Director...

President Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing the Attorney General (AG) to “take all necessary steps” to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).