Reminder: Starting January 1, 2013, Medicare Part D plans cover Barbiturates for certain conditions and Benzodiazepines

A certain group of medications were specifically excluded from Medicare Part D plan coverage and, previous to 2013, they included certain anti-anxiety and anti-seizure drugs - Barbiturates (Barbiturates include: Pentobarbital (Nembutal), Secobarbital (Seconal), Amobarbital (Amytal) and Phenobarbital (Luminal).) and Benzodiazepines (Benzodiazepines include: Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, etc.).

However, with changes to the Medicare law, as of January 1, 2013, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans must provide coverage of Barbiturates "when used to treat epilepsy, cancer, or a chronic mental health disorder" and Benzodiazepines.

As noted in Section 175 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008:

SEC. 175. INCLUSION OF BARBITURATES AND BENZODIAZEPINES AS COVERED PART D DRUGS.

(a) In general.—Section 1860D–2(e)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–102(e)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after “agents)," the following “other than subparagraph (I) of such section (relating to barbiturates) if the barbiturate is used in the treatment of epilepsy, cancer, or a chronic mental health disorder, and other than subparagraph (J) of such section (relating to benzodiazepines),".

(b) Effective date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to prescriptions dispensed on or after January 1, 2013.

You can check your 2013 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan's formulary coverage using our Formulary Browser, here is an example to get started on this site (just choose your state or Zip Code to review your formulary).

You can also use our Drug Finder to search for drug coverage across all Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your area.