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March 2023 Medicare Drug List Updates: Twenty-two (22) medications added to the 2023 Medicare Part D Drug plan formularies.

Category: Monthly Formulary Changes
Published: Mar, 25 2023 12:03:47
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The March 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 March formulary updates include the addition of 37 new National Drug Codes (NDCs), representing 22 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 March 2023 Formulary updates include three (3) newly-introduced brand-name drugs

The March drug data updates include eleven (11) new brand-name drugs, three (3) of which are newly introduced brand-name drugs, some with multiple strengths. These drugs include:
  • AUVELITY®,
  • ROXYBOND®, and
  • ZORYVE®.

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

The March Medicare Part D drug data also includes eleven (11) new generic medications, two (2) of which are newly-introduced generic drugs.  These new generic drugs include:
  • ESTRADIOL [Divigel®] and
  • METRONIDAZOLE [Vandazole®].

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 March 2023 NDC changes

There are many reasons for NDCs to be added to the Medicare Part D program, a summary for all 37 new March 2023 NDCs is as follows:

Reason for NDC Addition Occurrences
New Delivery Form and Strength 1
New Drug 10
New Drug and Strength 16
New Manufacturer and Strength 4
New Strength 4
Total 35

The following chart details the 37 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
64380017801 ACCOLATE 20 MG TABLET 1 2 New Manufacturer and Strength
64380019901 AMLOD-VALSA-HCTZ 10-160-12.5MG TABLET [Exforge HCT] 40 216 New Drug and Strength
64380020001 AMLOD-VALSA-HCTZ 10-160-25 MG TABLET [Exforge HCT] 40 216 New Drug and Strength
64380020101 AMLOD-VALSA-HCTZ 10-320-25 MG TABLET [Exforge HCT] 40 216 New Drug and Strength
64380019701 AMLOD-VALSA-HCTZ 5-160-12.5 MG TABLET [Exforge HCT] 40 216 New Drug and Strength
64380019801 AMLOD-VALSA-HCTZ 5-160-25 MG TABLET [Exforge HCT] 40 216 New Drug and Strength
81968004530 AUVELITY ER 45-105 MG TABLET IR ER 60 386 New Drug
69784071215 AVODART 0.5 MG SOFTGEL CAPSULE 1 0
 New Drug
00378108601 COLCHICINE 0.6 MG TABLET [Colcrys] 59 389 New Drug
00480943589 DICLOFENAC POTASSIUM 25 MG CAPSULE [Zipsor] 0
 3 New Drug
70700014335 ESTRADIOL 0.1% (0.25MG) GEL PACKET [Divigel] 25 72 New Drug and Strength
70700014435 ESTRADIOL 0.1% (0.5MG) GEL PACKET [Divigel] 25 72 New Drug and Strength
70700019435 ESTRADIOL 0.1% (0.75MG) GEL PACKET [Divigel] 25 72 New Drug and Strength
70700014535 ESTRADIOL 0.1% (1 MG) GEL PACKET [Divigel] 25 72 New Drug and Strength
70700019535 ESTRADIOL 0.1% (1.25MG) GEL PACKET [Divigel] 25 72 New Drug and Strength
58181304005 GLEOSTINE 10 MG CAPSULE 59 388 New Drug and Strength
58181304205 GLEOSTINE 100 MG CAPSULE 59 388 New Drug and Strength
58181304105 GLEOSTINE 40 MG CAPSULE 59 388 New Drug and Strength
70954049210 LEVOCARNITINE 330 MG TABLET [Carnitor] 58 368 New Delivery Form and Strength
00548570100 MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 150 MG/ML SYRINGE [Depo-Provera] 62 383 New Manufacturer and Strength
55150032901 MEDROXYPROGESTERONE 150 MG/ML VIAL [Depo-Provera] 62 390 New Manufacturer and Strength
61570007550 MENEST 2.5 MG TABLET 42 189 New Strength
45802013970 METRONIDAZOLE VAGINAL 0.75% GEL W/APPL [Vandazole] 62 391 New Drug
00480095356 NAPROXEN SOD ER 750 MG TABLET TBMP 24HR [Naprelan] 1 23 New Strength
68001042300 NITROFURANTOIN MONO-MCR 100 MG CAPSULE [Macrobid] 62 391 New Drug
72786010203 OXBRYTA 300 MG TABLET 6 104 New Strength
72205020132 ROFLUMILAST 250 MCG TABLET [Daliresp] 58 373 New Manufacturer and Strength
81140010210 ROXYBOND 15 MG TABLET ORL 0
 5 New Drug and Strength
81140010310 ROXYBOND 30 MG TABLET ORL 0
 5 New Drug and Strength
81140010110 ROXYBOND 5 MG TABLET ORL 0
 5 New Drug and Strength
00074106501 SKYRIZI 180 MG/1.2 ML ON-BODY WEAR INJCT 59 386 New Strength
51862037612 SORILUX 0.005% FOAM 0
 1 New Drug
23155001901 SULFASALAZINE 500 MG TABLET [Sulfazine] 62 391 New Drug
00078095325 TOBRADEX EYE DROPS EYE DROPPER 1 4 New Drug
80610013060 ZORYVE 0.3% CREAM (G) 0
 5 New Drug




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:
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


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