May 2013 Formulary Changes to the Top 10 Medicare Drugs

The most recent (May 2013) Medicare Part D plan formulary data (or drug lists) updates included 131 new drug codes. These represent new drugs, strengths, packaging, and/or manufactures. As to the top 10 Medicare Part D drugs, VALSARTAN-HCTZ 160-12.5 MG TAB has been added (generic for Diovan HCT®)
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We have chosen to include Altorvastatin, Clopidogrel, Escitalopram, Pioglitazone, Quetiapine Fumarate and Valsartan-HCTZ to the list of Top 10 Medicare Drugs, so our list actually includes 16 drugs -- Lipitor® with it’s generic equivalent Atorvastatin and Escitalopram for Lexapro®, Clopidogrel for Plavix®, Pioglitazone for Actos®, Quetiapine Fumarate generic equivalent for Seroquel® and now Valsartan-HCTZ for Diovan HCT®).

The changes to the number of formularies covering these medications looks as follows:

Count of 2013 Formularies covering the Top 10 Medicare Drugs Program wide
Formulary Count*
NDC	Drug Name	2012 Start**	2012 End**	2013 Start***	Jan.	April	May	June	July	Aug.
00430047203	ACTONEL 35 MG 36 DOSE PACK	0	218	229	227	214	233
64764030116	ACTOS 30MG TABLET (500 CT)	286	283	312	313	1	1
64764030115	ACTOS 30MG/1 TABLET (90 CT)	292	269
00173069600	ADVAIR DISKUS MIS 250/50	249	276	300	301	282	306
63304082790	ATORVASTATIN 10 MG TABLET [Lipitor]	0	280	312	313	294	317
00378362777	CLOPIDOGREL TAB 75MG [Plavix]	0	272	299	300	293	316
00078031534	DIOVAN HCT 160/12.5MG TABLET	276	274	232	234	228	201
00093585101	ESCITALOPRAM 10 MG TABLET [Lexapro]	0	262	297	298	293	316
00088222033	LANTUS 100U/ML VIAL	284	280	306	307	287	310
00456201001	LEXAPRO 10MG TABLET	237	156	92	91	79	92
00071015523	LIPITOR 10MG TABLET	225	138	67	66	65	68
00186504054	NEXIUM 40MG CAPSULE	199	196	182	180	182	195
00378022893	PIOGLITAZONE HCL 30 MG TABLET	266	307
63653117105	PLAVIX 75MG TABLET	287	258	114	112	103	115
47335090288	QUETIAPINE FUMARATE 25 MG TAB [SEROQUEL]	0	271	292	293	286	309
00310027510	SEROQUEL 25MG TABLET	282	198	116	114	103	117
00378632205	VALSARTAN-HCTZ 160-12.5 MG TAB	294

*The formulary counts include both stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) in all states and the U.S. territories.
**Initial (start) 2012 CMS formulary dataset dated October, 2011. The ending 2012 CMS formulary dataset dated September, 2012.
***Initial 2013 CMS formulary dataset dated October, 2012

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