We now have the recently released April 2021 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formulary (drug lists) data online and included in our Formulary Browser and Q1Rx Drug Finder.

The April formulary updates include the addition of 135 new National Drug Codes (NDCs), representing 95 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).


Highlights of the April 2021 Formulary update include eleven (11) newly-added brand-name drugs

The April drug data updates include forty (40) new brand-name drugs, eleven (11) of which are newly introduced brand-name drugs, some with multiple strengths. These drugs include:

• ABIRATERONE®,
• Cystadrops®,
• Hemady®,
• Impeklo®,
• Nyvepria®,
• ONUREG®,
• ORGOVYX®,
• ORLADEYO®,
• SUTAB®,
• Travatan Z®, and
• XYWAV®.

The April 2021 Formulary update includes 26 newly-added generic drugs

The April Medicare Part D drug data also includes 55 new generic medications, 26 of which are newly-introduced generic drugs.  These new generic drugs include:

• AMABELZ [Mimvey Lo®],
• AMABELZ [Mimvey®],
• CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE-CLIDINIUM [Librax®],
• DICLOFENAC [Voltaren Gel®],
• DILTIAZEM [Matzim LA®],
• FYAVOLV [Jevantique®],
• FYAVOLV [Jinteli 1/5®],
• HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN [Reprexain®],
• HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN [Vicoprofen®],
• HYDROCODONE-IBUPROFEN [Xylon 10®],
• ICLEVIA [Setlakin®],
• ICOSAPENT ETHYL [VASCEPA®],
• LEVOTHYROXINE [Tirosint®],
• LYLEQ [Sharobel 28-Day®],
• MERZEE [Taytulla®],
• Methoxsalen®],
• METRONIDAZOLE [Vitazol®],
• NISOLDIPINE [Sular®],
• NITAZOXANIDE [Alinia®],
• NITROFURANTOIN [Furadantin®],
• NYLIA [Pirmella®],
• RUFINAMIDE [Banzel®],
• THEOPHYLLINE [Uniphyl®],
• TILIA FE [Tri-Legest Fe®],
• TIMOLOL GEL [Timoptic-XE®], and
• VYFEMLA [Zenchent®].

You can see our article "April 2021 Drug List Updates: Fifty-five (55) new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies." found at https://Q1News.com/891.html for more about coverage the new generics.

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. 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 April 2021 NDC changes

There are many reasons for NDCs to be added to the Medicare Part D program, a summary for all 135 new April 2021 NDCs is as follows:


The following chart details the 135 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.

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:
September 2023, August 2023, June 2023, 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, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012

Formulary Changes to the Top Medicare Drugs:
September 2023, September 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:
June 2023, 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