July 2018 Drug List Updates: Nine (9) new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies.

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are allowed to update their plan formularies or drug lists throughout the plan year and the July 2018 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 58 new drugs, including nine (9) new generic drugs - with 16 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2018 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:

Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]	Number of PDP Formularies*	Number of MAPD Formularies*
ADMELOG 100 UNIT/ML VIAL [Humalog]	2	16
ADMELOG SOLOSTAR 100 UNIT/ML INSULN PEN [Humalog KwikPen]	2	14
BENZTROPINE MES 0.5 MG Tablet [Cogentin]	63	338
CEFACLOR 125 MG/5 ML SUSP [Ceclor]	32	218
CEFACLOR 250 MG/5 ML SUSP [Ceclor]	32	218
CEFACLOR 375 MG/5 ML SUSPEN [Ceclor]	32	218
HYDROCORT-PRAMOXINE 1%-1% CREAM/APPL [Zone A]	9	79
KELNOR 1-50 TABLET [Zovia 1/50E]	57	278
LAMOTRIGINE TAB START KIT-BLUE TAB DS PK [Subvenite]	17	168
LAMOTRIGINE TAB START KT-GREEN TAB DS PK [Subvenite]	17	164
LAMOTRIGINE TAB START KT-ORANG TAB DS PK [Subvenite]	17	161
LANSOPRAZOLE ODT 15 MG TABLET RAP DR [Prevacid]	7	62
LANSOPRAZOLE ODT 30 MG TABLET RAP DR [Prevacid]	7	63
LEVOLEUCOVORIN 50 MG VIAL [Fusilev]	50	303
MELODETTA 24 FE CHEWABLE TAB [Minastrin]	23	81
METHYLPHENIDATE ER 18 MG TAB [Concerta]	15	205
METHYLPHENIDATE ER 27 MG TAB [Concerta]	15	203
METHYLPHENIDATE ER 36 MG TAB [Concerta]	15	202
METHYLPHENIDATE ER 54 MG TAB [Concerta]	15	202
NIASPAN ER 750 MG TABLET [Slo-Niacin]	8	10
ORTHO MICRONOR 0.35 MG TABLET [Sharobel 28-Day]	3	11
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO TABLET [Trinessa Lo]	5	11
PALONOSETRON 0.25 MG/2 ML VIAL [Aloxi]	4	59
PALONOSETRON 0.25 MG/5 ML VIAL [Aloxi]	17	102
RITONAVIR 100 MG TABLET [Norvir]	62	325
TIAGABINE HCL 12 MG TABLET [Gabitril]	62	323
TIAGABINE HCL 16 MG TABLET [Gabitril]	62	323
TOBRAMYCIN 0.3% EYE DROPS [Tobrex]	63	339
TRIAMCINOLONE 200 MG/5 ML VIAL [Triesence]	24	159

*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 2018 generics are being offered on the same tier as their brand-name equivalent or the generics do not have a significantly lower retail price. For example, the brand-name Emend (40 mg) may be a Tier 4 drug (45% co-insurance) and the same plan may now cover the generic equivalent APREPITANT 40 MG CAPSULE also as a Tier 4 drug (45% co-insurance). You can click here to see how your Medicare drug plan is covering these medication.
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. 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 July 2018 Medicare Part D formulary data.