(Reuters] – U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra demanded Monday that the Medicare program reassess the 2022 premium hikes. It was done weeks after Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ) had cut by roughly half the price of its Alzheimer’s medicine.

Medicare increased the Part B premium for physician and outpatient hospital services by 15% in November to $170.10 per year in 2022. However, there is uncertainty over the decision regarding the treatment Aduhelm.

In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Aduhelm to treat brain-wasting diseases despite outside advice that Biogen hadn’t proven its clinical benefits.

The drugmaker reduced the cost of Aduhelm from $28,200 to an average-weight person last month after it faced slower than expected U.S. sales. Hospitals complained that Aduhelm was too expensive.

“With the 50% price drop of Aduhelm on January 1, there is a compelling basis for CMS to reexamine the previous recommendation,” Beccera said in a statement. [https://

The U.S. Medicare program, which pays for health services for people over 65 years, has scheduled a meeting this month for a national policy for the drug.

“We have spoken with majority of payers and the price change was very well received by both payers and physicians,” said Alisha Alaimo, president of Biogen’s U.S. operations, at the annual J.P Morgan Health Care conference on Monday.

“We have heard anecdotal cases of physicians calling patients back who are hesitant because of the price.”