May 2019 Drug List Updates: Twenty-five (25) 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 May 2019 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 60 new drugs, 26 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 32 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2019 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:

Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]	Number of PDP Formularies*	Number of MAPD Formularies*
ALBENDAZOLE 200 MG TABLET [Albenza]	62	347
ALBUTEROL HFA 90 MCG INHALER HFA AER AD [Ventolin HFA]	19	168
AMILORIDE HCL 5 MG TABLET [Midamor]	62	356
CLOBETASOL EMOLLNT 0.05% FOAM [Olux-E]	16	135
COLISTIMETHATE 150 MG VIAL [Coly-Mycin M]	62	352
DICLOFENAC 0.1% EYE DROPS [Voltaren]	55	342
DICLOFENAC SOD ER 100 MG TABLET ER 24H [Voltaren-XR]	59	352
DOXEPIN 5% CREAM (g) [Zonalon]	11	85
DOXYCYCLINE HYC DR 200 MG TABLET DR [Doryx]	5	66
DRONABINOL 10 MG CAPSULE [Marinol]	62	355
DRONABINOL 2.5 MG CAPSULE [Marinol]	62	356
DRONABINOL 5 MG CAPSULE [Marinol]	62	356
DVORAH 325-30-16 MG TABLET [Panlor]	1	9
FLUCYTOSINE 250 MG CAPSULE [Ancobon]	62	355
FLUCYTOSINE 500 MG CAPSULE [Ancobon]	62	353
HALOBETASOL PROP 0.05% FOAM [LEXETTE]	2	17
JASMIEL 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz]	51	276
LULICONAZOLE 1% CREAM (g) [LUZU]	1	17
NEVIRAPINE 50 MG/5 ML SUSP Oral Suspension [Viramune]	62	356
PIMECROLIMUS 1% CREAM (g) [Elidel]	30	213
PRAZIQUANTEL 600 MG TABLET [Biltricide]	38	205
PREVIFEM TABLET [VyLibra]	60	338
SEVELAMER HCL 800 MG TABLET [RenaGel]	9	135
SIROLIMUS 1 MG/ML SOLUTION [Rapamune]	62	344
TOREMIFENE CITRATE 60 MG TABLET [Fareston]	62	346
TRI-PREVIFEM TABLET [Trinessa]	57	345
TRI-VYLIBRA LO TABLET [Trinessa Lo]	47	258
VIGABATRIN 500 MG TABLET [Sabril]	62	346
VORICONAZOLE 50 MG TABLET [VFEND]	62	355
WIXELA 100-50 INHUB BLST W/DEV [Advair]	10	108
WIXELA 250-50 INHUB BLST W/DEV [Advair]	10	108
WIXELA 500-50 INHUB BLST W/DEV [Advair]	10	108

*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 2019 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 May 2019 Medicare Part D formulary data.