April 2020 Drug List Updates: Thirty-four (34) new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies.

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the April 2020 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 65 new drugs, 34 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 60 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2020 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:

Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]	Number of PDP Formularies*	Number of MAPD Formularies*
ADAPALENE 0.1% SOLUTION [Plixda]	2	32
ALENDRONATE SODIUM 10 MG TABLET [Fosamax]	65	388
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-160 MG TABLET [Exforge]	60	362
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-320 MG TABLET [Exforge]	60	364
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-160 MG TABLET [Exforge]	60	364
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-320 MG TABLET [Exforge]	60	362
AMPHETAMINE ER 1.25 MG/ML SUSP BP 24H [Adzenys]	0	10
BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 160-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort]	2	31
BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 80-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort]	2	31
CALCIPOTRIENE-BETAMETH DP SUSPENSION [Taclonex Scalp]	5	76
DAPSONE 7.5% GEL W/PUMP [Aczone]	2	35
DEXTROAMPHETAMINE 5 MG/5 ML SOLUTION [ProCentra]	7	114
DIAZEPAM 10 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]	64	381
DIAZEPAM 2.5 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]	65	382
DIAZEPAM 20 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]	64	381
DOXEPIN HCL 3 MG TABLET [Silenor]	31	184
DOXEPIN HCL 6 MG TABLET [Silenor]	31	184
ELURYNG VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing]	27	284
ETONOGESTREL-EE VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing]	27	287
EUTHYROX 100 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 112 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 125 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 137 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 150 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 175 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 200 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 25 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 50 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 75 MCG TABLET	49	267
EUTHYROX 88 MCG TABLET	49	267
EVEROLIMUS 2.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]	60	337
EVEROLIMUS 5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]	60	337
EVEROLIMUS 7.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]	60	337
HYDROCODONE ER 10 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	65
HYDROCODONE ER 15 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	65
HYDROCODONE ER 20 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	67
HYDROCODONE ER 30 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	65
HYDROCODONE ER 40 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	65
HYDROCODONE ER 50 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]	9	65
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML CARTRIDGE	0	64
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML INSULIN PEN [NovoLog PenFill]	0	64
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML VIAL [NovoLog PenFill]	0	62
INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP INSULIN PEN [NovoLog Mix 70/30]	0	65
INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP VIAL [NovoLog Mix 70/30]	0	65
ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE 40 MG TABLET [Sorbitrate]	18	125
LEVOBUNOLOL 0.5% EYE DROPS [Betagan]	58	378
MESALAMINE ER 0.375 GRAM CAPSULE 24H [Apriso]	40	266
METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 2.5 MG TABLET [Pamine]	20	221
METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 5 MG TABLET [Pamine Forte]	20	219
METOPROLOL SUCC ER 100 MG TABLET ER 24H [Toprol XL]	65	388
NIKKI 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz]	58	350
PENICILLAMINE 250 MG TABLET [Depen]	62	367
PENTAMIDINE 300 MG INHAL POWDER VIAL-NEB [NebuPent]	63	378
PENTAMIDINE 300 MG VIAL [Pentam]	65	375
SODIUM CHLORIDE 3% IV SOLUTION	45	310
SUCRALFATE 1 GM/10 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Carafate]	22	225
TRAMADOL HCL 100 MG TABLET	14	108
TRAVOPROST 0.004% EYE DROPS [Travatan]	52	339
TRIAMCINOLONE 0.05% OINTMENT [Trianex]	12	111
VERAPAMIL 120 MG TABLET [Calan]	65	388

*The number of formularies counts the unique formularies that offer this medication. As a note, the same formulary can be used by one or many different Medicare Part D plans. The same formulary can be used by both PDP and MAPD plans.

What Could the Addition of New Generic Drugs Mean to You?

You may be able to save money by switching from the brand-name drug to its generic equivalent – with your prescriber’s approval and a new prescription. Please note, you will need to look carefully at coverage costs as we have found that many 2020 generics are being offered on the same tier as their brand-name equivalent or the generics do not have a significantly lower retail price.
Your brand-name drug may no longer be available if a generic is now available. Based on past experience, you may find that many Medicare Part D plans discontinue coverage for the brand-name drug in the months following the introduction of the generic equivalent - or your plan may immediately drop the brand-name drug now that the generic is being introduced
.
If you have received notice from your Medicare Part D plan that your brand-name medication will be dropped, you should speak with your prescriber to determine if you can take the generic equivalent or if you must continue taking the brand-name drug, you will need to ask your plan for a formulary exception to continue coverage for your brand-name drug.

You can click for a chart showing the trends in formulary coverage for some of the more popular Medicare drugs and their generic equivalents.

As a note, both our Formulary Browser (you can view all the drugs covered by a single Medicare prescription drug plan) and our the drug finder Drug Finder (you can view all the Medicare drug plans covering a single drug) have been updated with the April 2020 Medicare Part D formulary data.