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

Category: Monthly Formulary Changes
Published: Apr, 26 2020 02:04:34


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]232
ALENDRONATE SODIUM 10 MG TABLET [Fosamax]65388
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-160 MG TABLET [Exforge]60362
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-320 MG TABLET [Exforge]60364
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-160 MG TABLET [Exforge]60364
AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-320 MG TABLET [Exforge]60362
AMPHETAMINE ER 1.25 MG/ML SUSP BP 24H [Adzenys]010
BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 160-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort]231
BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 80-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort]231
CALCIPOTRIENE-BETAMETH DP SUSPENSION [Taclonex Scalp]576
DAPSONE 7.5% GEL W/PUMP [Aczone]235
DEXTROAMPHETAMINE 5 MG/5 ML SOLUTION [ProCentra]7114
DIAZEPAM 10 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]64381
DIAZEPAM 2.5 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]65382
DIAZEPAM 20 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat]64381
DOXEPIN HCL 3 MG TABLET [Silenor]31184
DOXEPIN HCL 6 MG TABLET [Silenor]31184
ELURYNG VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing]27284
ETONOGESTREL-EE VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing]27287
EUTHYROX 100 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 112 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 125 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 137 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 150 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 175 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 200 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 25 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 50 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 75 MCG TABLET49267
EUTHYROX 88 MCG TABLET49267
EVEROLIMUS 2.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]60337
EVEROLIMUS 5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]60337
EVEROLIMUS 7.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor]60337
HYDROCODONE ER 10 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]965
HYDROCODONE ER 15 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]965
HYDROCODONE ER 20 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]967
HYDROCODONE ER 30 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]965
HYDROCODONE ER 40 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]965
HYDROCODONE ER 50 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro]965
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML CARTRIDGE064
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML INSULIN PEN [NovoLog PenFill]064
INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML VIAL [NovoLog PenFill]062
INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP INSULIN PEN [NovoLog Mix 70/30]065
INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP VIAL [NovoLog Mix 70/30]065
ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE 40 MG TABLET [Sorbitrate]18125
LEVOBUNOLOL 0.5% EYE DROPS [Betagan]58378
MESALAMINE ER 0.375 GRAM CAPSULE 24H [Apriso]40266
METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 2.5 MG TABLET [Pamine]20221
METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 5 MG TABLET [Pamine Forte]20219
METOPROLOL SUCC ER 100 MG TABLET ER 24H [Toprol XL]65388
NIKKI 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz]58350
PENICILLAMINE 250 MG TABLET [Depen]62367
PENTAMIDINE 300 MG INHAL POWDER VIAL-NEB [NebuPent]63378
PENTAMIDINE 300 MG VIAL [Pentam]65375
SODIUM CHLORIDE 3% IV SOLUTION45310
SUCRALFATE 1 GM/10 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Carafate]22225
TRAMADOL HCL 100 MG TABLET14108
TRAVOPROST 0.004% EYE DROPS [Travatan]52339
TRIAMCINOLONE 0.05% OINTMENT [Trianex]12111
VERAPAMIL 120 MG TABLET [Calan]65388




*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 Q1Rx 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.







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