State healthcare plans struggling to pay for multimillion-dollar gene therapies got a lifeline this summer when the federal government launched a novel plan to negotiate fees and rebates to cover the costs for the medicines. But will the move sway patients who haven’t flocked to the potential cures?

The Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model, launched by the CMS in July, allows CMS to negotiate outcomes-based contracts with drugmakers on behalf of states. So far, 33, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have joined the program. As part of the agreement, drugmakers will be required to provide rebates to states if the therapies fail to deliver their expected

clinical benefits.

The program is initially focusing on treatments for sickle cell disease, for which there are two approved ge

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