CMS enters agreement with Vertex, bluebird to improve access to gene therapies

(Reuters) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday said it had entered into agreements with Vertex Pharmaceuticals and bluebird bio to help increase patient access to their gene therapies.

The so-called “outcomes-based agreements” will tie payments to whether the therapy improves health outcomes for patients who receive these drugs and are enrolled in government-backed Medicaid insurance plans.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)