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May 2023 Medicare Drug List Updates: Thirty-two (32) medications added to the 2023 Medicare Part D Drug plan formularies.

Category: Monthly Formulary Changes
Published: May, 21 2023 04:05:28
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The May 2023 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formulary (drug list) data is now online and included in our Formulary Browser and Q1Rx Drug Finder.

The May formulary updates include the addition of 49 new National Drug Codes (NDCs), representing 32 different prescription drugs, many with multiple strengths.

The formulary updates impact both stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage (MAPDs).

The May 2023 Formulary updates include two (2) newly-added generic drugs

The May Medicare Part D drug data also includes twenty-eight (28) new generic medications, two (2) of which are newly-introduced generic drugs.  These new generic drugs include:

  • BISOPROLOL-HCTZ [Ziac®], and
  • LEVOFLOXACIN DROPS.

Please note that these new generic and brand-name drugs are not available on all Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plans - and you can review the chart to see the (often limited) number of plan formularies that now include these drugs.


Reminders about Medicare prescription drug plan formulary changes
  1. Medicare Part D plans (PDPs and MAPDs) can change their formulary or drug list during the year and may drop one of your formulary medication mid-year for specific Medicare-allowable reasons (such as a new generic drug is available), but there are steps you can take if your medication is no longer covered by your prescription drug plan.

  2. In most cases, your Medicare Part D plan will notify you if the plan drops a medication you are currently using.

Good to know: What is the NDC?

The NDC or National Drug Code is used to uniquely identify a particular drug, manufacturer, strength, and packaging combination. The NDC is often shown on your prescription bottle as an 11-digit code (see the charts below) or could be formatted as 00000-0000-00 where the first set of numbers identifies the drug manufacturer, the second set of number identifies the product and strength, and the third set of numbers identifies the packaging.  You can read more here: Q1FAQ.com/155


Summary of May 2023 NDC changes

There are many reasons for NDCs to be added to the Medicare Part D program, a summary for all 49 new May 2023 NDCs is as follows:

Reason for NDC Addition Occurrences
New Delivery Form1
New Drug11
New Drug and Strength7
New Drug, Delivery Form and Strength4
New Manufacturer and Delivery Form1
New Manufacturer and Strength8
New Manufacturer, Strength and Delivery Form2
New Strength15
Grand Total49

The following chart details the 49 new manufacturer / drug-strength / packaging combinations (NDCs) that were added to one or more Medicare Part D formularies in the most recent updates -- as you will notices, some drugs are only covered by a few Medicare plans.

You can click on the Drug Name below to go to our Q1Medicare.com Drug Finder (Q1Rx.com) and see the details of how this drug is covered by all Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) in Florida (our example state).  You can then change the state in our search form for details of drug coverage in your service area.


NDC Drug Name Number of
PDP Formularies*		 Number of
MAPD Formularies*		 Notes
72578000201ACYCLOVIR 200 MG CAPSULE [Zovirax]62391New Manufacturer, Strength and Delivery Form
76204020025ALBUTEROL SULFATE 2.5 MG/3 ML SOLUTION VIAL-NEB62391New Manufacturer, Strength and Delivery Form
00185032501BENAZEPRIL-HCTZ 10-12.5 MG TABLET [Lotensin HCT]62387New Strength
00185021101BENAZEPRIL-HCTZ 20-12.5 MG TABLET [Lotensin HCT]62387New Strength
00185027701BENAZEPRIL-HCTZ 20-25 MG TABLET [Lotensin HCT]62387New Strength
42799092201BISOPROLOL-HCTZ 10-6.25 MG TABLET [Ziac]61390New Drug
00069723230CADUET 10 MG-20 MG TABLET0
2New Strength
00069618030CADUET 5 MG-10 MG TABLET0
2New Strength
00069632330CADUET 5 MG-20 MG TABLET0
2New Strength
00069674730CADUET 5 MG-80 MG TABLET0
2New Strength
00049241010CARDURA 1 MG TABLET12New Strength
00049251210CARDURA 2 MG TABLET12New Strength
00049261410CARDURA 4 MG TABLET12New Strength
81948625001CEFACLOR 250 MG/5 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Ceclor]23269New Manufacturer and Strength
73116021556COPIKTRA 15 MG CAPSULE62391New Manufacturer and Strength
60505622904DAPTOMYCIN 500 MG VIAL [Cubicin RF]62391New Manufacturer and Strength
72578008601DESONIDE 0.05% CREAM (G) [Tridesilon]34213New Manufacturer and Delivery Form
00093960995DOXEPIN 5% CREAM (G) [Zonalon]558New Drug
23155053925DOXERCALCIFEROL 1 MCG CAPSULE [Hectorol]18236New Drug
51672130308ECONAZOLE NITRATE 1% CREAM (G) [Spectazole]38291New Drug
70954048110ESTAZOLAM 2 MG TABLET [ProSom]390New Drug
00054041413FEBUXOSTAT 80 MG TABLET [Uloric]26291New Manufacturer and Strength
00832151011HALOPERIDOL 0.5 MG TABLET [Haldol]62391New Strength
00832152011HALOPERIDOL 1 MG TABLET [Haldol]62391New Strength
00832153011HALOPERIDOL 2 MG TABLET [Haldol]62391New Strength
59762007301HYDROCORTISONE 5 MG TABLET [Cortef]62391New Strength
50742017601ISOSORBIDE MONONIT ER 60 MG TABLET 24H [Isotrate ER]62391New Drug
64380071104LAMIVUDINE 300 MG TABLET [Epivir]62391New Manufacturer and Strength
00169643210LEVEMIR FLEXPEN 100 UNIT/ML INSULIN PEN37275New Delivery Form
16571015050LEVOFLOXACIN 0.5% EYE DROPS 5 ML BOTTLE21227New Drug
00378181310LEVOTHYROXINE 125 MCG TABLET [Unithroid]62391New Drug and Strength
68180097501LEVOTHYROXINE 200 MCG TABLET [Unithroid]62391New Drug and Strength
68180097601LEVOTHYROXINE 300 MCG TABLET [Unithroid]62391New Drug and Strength
66993037179MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 150 MG/ML SYRINGE [Depo-Provera]62383New Drug, Delivery Form and Strength
66993037083MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 150 MG/ML VIAL [Depo-Provera]62390New Drug, Delivery Form and Strength
68382045219MESALAMINE ER 0.375 GRAM CAPSULE ER 24H [Apriso]56369New Drug
00713063337METRONIDAZOLE 0.75% CREAM (G) [Vitazol]62390New Drug
16714015503NORETH-EE-FE 1-0.02(24)-75 CAPSULE [Taytulla]12126New Drug
69238229401OXYCODONE HCL ER 10 MG TABLET 12H [OxyContin]0
139New Drug and Strength
69238229601OXYCODONE HCL ER 20 MG TABLET 12H [OxyContin]0
139New Drug and Strength
42858000401OXYCODONE HCL (IR) 20 MG TABLET [Roxicodone]62389New Drug, Delivery Form and Strength
00406855730OXYCODONE HCL 100 MG/5 ML ORAL CONC [Roxicodone]29294New Drug, Delivery Form and Strength
47335076583PALIPERIDONE ER 3 MG TABLET 24 [Invega]62391New Manufacturer and Strength
47335076683PALIPERIDONE ER 6 MG TABLET 24 [Invega]62391New Manufacturer and Strength
47335076783PALIPERIDONE ER 9 MG TABLET 24 [Invega]62391New Manufacturer and Strength
59762011901PHENELZINE SULFATE 15 MG TABLET [Nardil]62391New Drug
70700016201PROGESTERONE 100 MG CAPSULE [Prometrium]49300New Drug and Strength
70700016301PROGESTERONE 200 MG CAPSULE [Prometrium]49300New Drug and Strength
70954021210TRIHEXYPHENIDYL 2 MG TABLET [Artane]32338New Strength




If your brand-name drug is no longer covered by your Medicare Part D plan, you can use the 30-day notice period (if notice is provided) to:
  • Ask your prescriber about trying the generic.

  • Check for an alternative formulary drug.

  • Ask your plan to cover a non-formulary drug. 
    You will need to work with your doctor or prescriber to explain why you are not able to use the generic medication or why no other formulary drug is acceptable.  If your formulary exception is denied, you have the right to appeal your plan’s decision.

  • Consider using a Special Enrollment Period and move to another Medicare plan that provides coverage of all your prescription and health needs.
Learn more in our article: How a mid-year formulary change can affect your Medicare Part D drug coverage.

Our online Formulary Browser and Drug Finder

You can review any Medicare plan formulary using the Q1Medicare.com Formulary Browser found at: FormularyBrowser.com or compare how any medication is covered on all Medicare plans in your Service Area using our Drug Finder found at: Q1Rx.com.

Additional Formulary Drug Change Articles:

Medicare Part D Plan Formulary (Drug Lists) Updates:
May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, August 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, May 2017, April 2017, August 2016, July 2016, June 2016, April 2016, March 2016, October 2015, August 2015, July 2015, May 2015, April 2015, August 2014, May 2014, August 2013, June 2013, May 2013, April 2013, October 2012, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012

Formulary Changes to the Top Medicare Drugs:
May 2023, August 2022, September 2021, September 2020, April 2020, September 2019, April 2019, August 2018, April 2018, August 2017, April 2017, August 2016, April 2016, October 2015, April 2015, August 2014, August 2013, April 2013

New Generic Equivalents Added to Formularies:
February 2023, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, April 2017, March & April 2016, April & May 2015, August 2014, May 2014


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