August 2021 Drug List Updates: Fourteen (14) 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 August 2021 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 25 new drugs, 14 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 23 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2021 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:

Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]	Number of PDP Formularies*	Number of MAPD Formularies*
BRINZOLAMIDE 1% EYE DROPS EYE DROPPER [Azopt]	30	238
CALCIPOTRIENE 0.005% FOAM [Sorilux]	0	25
CALCIPOTRIENE 0.005% SOLUTION [Dovonex Scalp]	68	396
CARISOPRODOL 250 MG TABLET [Soma]	4	43
DOLISHALE 90-20 MCG TABLET [Lybrel]	24	153
FLUOXETINE HCL 10 MG TABLET [Sarafem]	32	193
FLUOXETINE HCL 20 MG TABLET [Sarafem]	15	157
HYDROCODONE ER 100 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
HYDROCODONE ER 120 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
HYDROCODONE ER 20 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
HYDROCODONE ER 30 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
HYDROCODONE ER 40 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
HYDROCODONE ER 60 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	77
HYDROCODONE ER 80 MG TABLET ER 24H [Hysingla ER]	8	79
NORGESIC FORTE 50-770-60 MG TABLET [Orphengesic Forte]	0	2
OXYCODONE-ACETAMINOPHN 2.5-325 TABLET [Percocet]	65	387
PREGABALIN ER 165 MG TABLET ER 24H [Lyrica CR]	10	98
PREGABALIN ER 330 MG TABLET ER 24H [Lyrica CR]	10	96
PREGABALIN ER 82.5 MG TABLET ER 24H [Lyrica CR]	10	98
PROPYLTHIOURACIL 50 MG TABLET	68	396
UNITHROID 137 MCG TABLET	63	341
VESTURA 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz]	56	344
ZAFEMY 150-35 MCG/DAY PATCH [Xulane]	19	234

*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 2021 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
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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 August 2021 Medicare Part D formulary data.