Elizabeth Hargrave

NORC at the

University of Chicago

Jack Hoadley

Jennifer Thompson

Georgetown University

MedPAC

601 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Suite 9000

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 220-3700

Fax: (202) 220-3759

www.medpac.gov

•

•

The views expressed in this report

are those of the authors.

No endorsement by MedPAC

is intended or should be inferred.

Coverage and Pricing

of Drugs That Can

Be Covered Under

A study conducted by staff from Georgetown University

and from NORC at the University of Chicago 

for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

October 2007 • No. 07–6

Part B and Part D
Coverage and Pricing of Drugs That Can Be 

Covered Under Part B and Part D 

Final Report 

Elizabeth Hargrave 

NORC at the University of Chicago 

Jack Hoadley and Jennifer Thompson 

Georgetown University 

Submitted to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission 

Joan Sokolovsky, Project Officer 

October, 2007 

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of David Barish (Georgetown University) 

for assistance with data collection and Lan Zhao (NORC) for assistance with data analysis. 
Table of Contents 

Executive Summary...........................................................................................................................................1

CMS and Plan Policies Regarding Part B and Part D Drugs ......................................................................4

Part D Coverage of Drugs Commonly Used in Part B................................................................................5

Coverage .........................................................................................................................................................6

Tier Status.......................................................................................................................................................8

Use of Prior Authorization and Other Utilization Management Tools..............................................11

Comparison of Prices for Drugs Covered in Part B and Part D..............................................................15

Total Spending.............................................................................................................................................16

Beneficiary Cost Sharing as a Share of Total Costs ...............................................................................16

Absolute Beneficiary Spending..................................................................................................................18

Plan and Medicare Spending......................................................................................................................20

Case Study: A Beneficiary in the First Two Years After an Organ Transplant ................................20

Other Issues from Interviews ........................................................................................................................22

Emergency Supplies of Drugs While a Coverage Decision is Made ...................................................22

Challenges to Making B/D Determinations ...........................................................................................22

Home Infusion ............................................................................................................................................22

Vaccines ........................................................................................................................................................23

Brown Bagging for Physician-Administered Drugs...............................................................................23

Implications of Changing Which Programs Cover Certain Drugs ......................................................23

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................24

Appendix A. Part B Coverage of Prescription Drugs...............................................................................25

Appendix B. Summary Tables by Covered Entity and Drug Product....................................................26

Appendix C. Part D Coverage of Selected Drugs That May Be Covered By Part B or Part D .........29

Appendix D. Coverage of IV Immune Globulin.......................................................................................45

Appendix E. Cost Data for Selected Drugs That May Be Covered By Part B or Part D....................46

Appendix F. Methodology ............................................................................................................................51
1

Coverage and Pricing of Drugs That Can Be Covered Under 

Part B and Part D 

Executive Summary 

Part B of Medicare covers certain drugs when provided in a physician’s office or under other 

selected circumstances. Many of these drugs may also be covered under the Part D prescription 

drug benefit, when the beneficiary’s situation does not meet Part B coverage requirements. Plans 

participating in Part D include many such drugs on their formularies, but coverage varies by plan. 

The costs of the drugs –to the government, to beneficiaries, and overall – can differ substantially 

depending on whether they are covered in Part B or in Part D. 

In this project, we examined this overlap between Part B and Part D coverage in three ways. First, 

we spoke with various stakeholders about their policies on and experiences with these drugs. 

Second, we looked at data on all Part D plans and how they cover these drugs. Third, for a select 

group of drugs, we compared the prices paid by the government and beneficiaries when a drug is 

covered by Part B to prices in national prescription drug plans participating in Part D. 

Stakeholder interviews 

Individuals at health plans, pharmacies, and trade organizations told us that drugs that can be 

covered under either Part B or Part D are consuming considerable time and energy for health plans 

and pharmacies. Although the process of determining whether a drug is covered under Part B or D 

of Medicare has improved since Part D was introduced in January of 2006, room for improvement 

and clarification remains. 

o Medicare simplified the determination process for some groups of drugs, such as 

chemotherapy agents, by determining that whenever a drug is dispensed at retail pharmacy, it 

cannot meet the requirements for Part B coverage (i.e., being incident to a physician’s 

service). Pharmacists and plans found this clarification very helpful. 

o Some drugs with overlap issues may be much more likely to be covered under one program 

or the other. For example, PCMA/NACDS reports that data from the IMS National 

Disease and Therapeutic Index shows only 2% of prednisone use is for transplant patients – 

which might be covered by Part B -- while the other 98% of usage would be covered under 

Part D. Plans and pharmacists are still expected to make a B/D determination for these 

drugs. 

o Respondents noted that one of the more challenging determinations is whether an oral antiemetic is being dispensed within 48 hours of chemotherapy, which determines whether it 

will be covered by B or D. 

o Some respondents suggested that Medicare should ensure better access to B/D drugs by 

creating a way to provisionally cover the drug while coverage issues are worked out. 
2

o Many drugs that can be delivered at home via a specialty pharmacy or in long-term care 

require the use of equipment that is not reimburseable as durable medical equipment. The 

beneficiary may have to pay out-of-pocket for items such as syringes, IV tubing, or bags. 

This also has caused problems for providers of home infusion services, since Part D does 

not cover the supplies, equipment or staffing that accompanies most home infusion 

regimens. This has raised particular issues for dually eligible beneficiaries whose home 

infusion was previously fully covered. 

o Part D plans are open to having drugs switched to be covered by Part D only – and would 

welcome the change for some groups of drugs, as long as they have the lead time to include 

the cost of the drugs in their annual bids. Although some pharmacists had trouble with both 

Part B and Part D, several pharmacists said they prefer working with Part D plans, because 

the systems are more automated. 

Part D Coverage of Drugs Commonly Used in Part B 

Part D plans are given the flexibility to create limited formularies that pick and chose among 

individual drugs, as long as the plans fulfill basic requirements. We examined coverage of 276 

chemical entities that have Part B charges and also appear on the list of drugs for which Part D must 

supply coverage information. The coverage, tier placement, and utilization management of these 

drugs by the plans participating in Part D in 2007 varies substantially. 

o On average, the chemical entities on our list were covered by 75% of the Part D plans. The 

vast majority of drugs (93%) are covered by at least half the Part D plans. One drug is 

covered by just 24% of plans. 

o About half the drugs on our list – mostly generics -- are on a preferred tier in a majority of 

the plans that cover them. Brand name drugs are less likely to be placed on a preferred tier. 

Because of the nature of this set of drugs, all but a dozen chemical entities are on a specialty 

or injectible tier in at least one plan. About a quarter of the drugs on our list – mostly brand 

name drugs -- are placed on a specialty tier by the majority of plans that cover them. 

o The plans we interviewed reported that they commonly use prior authorization to gather the 

information needed to determine whether a drug should be covered under Part B or Part D. 

Prior authorization is used not only to determine B/D issues but also to determine medical 

necessity. Almost a fifth of the drugs on our list are subject to prior authorization 

requirements in a majority of plans. Our analysis shows that many plans are more likely to 

include this requirement for expensive drugs where the administrative cost is easier to justify. 

Comparison of Prices for Drugs Covered in Part B and Part D 

Pricing and cost sharing work differently in the two parts of the Medicare program. In Part B, the 

price of drugs is based on the Average Sales Price (ASP), plus a 6% payment to cover additional 

costs incurred in acquisition of the drug. The beneficiary pays 20% cost sharing. In Part D, there is 

no set price for drugs, and the beneficiary’s cost varies from plan to plan and throughout the benefit 
3

structure. On average across all drugs and all beneficiaries, beneficiary cost sharing should be 25% 

of the cost of the drug during the initial coverage period. For a set of 50 drugs, we collected price 

data to compare costs in Part B and Part D. 

o For most of the 50 drug prices we examined, the negotiated price reported by Part D plans is 

higher than ASP+6%. One reason for this pattern among brand name drugs may be the 

exclusion of rebates from the reported Part D price. For generic drugs, there are other 

irregularities in the way prices are reported that may be driving the differences between Part 

B and Part D. 

o Beneficiary spending in Part D is almost always higher than in Part B, reflecting both the 

higher Part D transaction prices (i.e., prices that exclude the rebates obtained by the plans) 

and the higher cost sharing established in law for Part D (i.e., 25% on average versus 20% in 

Part B). Over the course of a year in which they took no other drugs, a beneficiary’s annual 

cost sharing would be lower under Part D than under Part B for only 3 of the 50 drugs we 

studied. Beneficiaries would pay up to $100 more in a typical Part D plan for 10 of the 50 

drugs that we studied. The annual B/D difference in beneficiary cost sharing would be 

between $100 and $500 for 16 drugs, between $500 and $2000 for 6 drugs, and more than 

$2,000 for 15 drugs. 

o Despite the fact that total costs are generally more under Part D, the fact that beneficiary 

cost sharing is higher means that Part D plans often pay less than Part B. However, for 15 

of our 50 drugs, the Part D plan’s cost is higher than Medicare’s Part B payment for the 

same drug. For the three drugs with the largest price differences – the infused or injected 

immunosuppressants cyclosporine, Atgam, and Prograf – this is partly because of 

catastrophic coverage in Part D. For the other drugs, however, the beneficiary pays more 

than 20% of the cost, but this is outweighed by a higher overall price in Part D. 

Conclusion 

Although Part B and Part D may both cover the same drugs, the amount that the government and 

the beneficiary may pay can vary dramatically between the two programs. Many of the drugs are 

very costly, and in absolute terms, the annual difference in beneficiary cost sharing between the two 

programs can sometimes be in the thousands of dollars. These dynamics should be considered as 

policy makers consider any changes to which drugs should be covered under Part B or Part D. 

The finding that the negotiated prices reported by Part D plans are almost always higher than the 

price paid under Part B may merit further study, although the role that manufacturer rebates play 

may be an explanation that cannot be studied due to lack of data. In particular, we did not pursue in 

this study some of the anomalies in generic prices that may point to structural issues in the ASP 

system, the Medicare Plan Finder, or both. 

Both plans and pharmacists are concerned about the burden imposed by making coverage 

determinations for these drugs. While there are large differences in payment outcomes for 

expensive drugs, some B/D drugs cost less than the process of prior authorization itself. But when 

plans forgo the use of prior authorization for these inexpensive drugs, they fear that they are 

vulnerable to sanctions if drugs are incorrectly paid under Part D. 
4

Coverage and Pricing of Drugs That Can Be Covered Under 

Part B and Part D 

Over the years, Part B of Medicare has come to cover a sizeable number of drugs. Many of these 

drugs are provided in a physician’s office, but Part B sometimes also covers drugs under other 

circumstances. Plans participating in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit include many of 

these drugs on their formularies because there are circumstances in which they are eligible for Part 

D coverage. However, coverage varies by plan, so that whether a beneficiary has access to all of the 

Part B drugs through Part D depends on which plan he or she enrolls in. The costs of the drugs –to 

the government, to beneficiaries, and overall – may also differ substantially depending on whether 

they are covered in Part B or in Part D. 

In this project, we examined this overlap between Part B and Part D coverage in three ways. First, 

we spoke with various stakeholders about their policies on and experiences with these drugs. 

Second, we looked at data on all Part D plans and how they cover these drugs in 2007. Third, for a 

select group of drugs, we compared the prices paid by the government and beneficiaries when a 

drug is covered by Part B to prices in national prescription drug plans participating in Part D. 

CMS and Plan Policies Regarding Part B and Part D Drugs 

Prior to the passage of the Part D prescription drug benefit, Medicare already covered several 

categories of drugs in Part B: 

• Injected or intravenous drugs are covered when administered incident to a physician service, 

if they are considered to be “not usually self-administered.” 

• To reduce the incentive for extra physician services, oral anti-cancer drugs and oral antiemetic drugs taken in association with chemotherapy are covered if they are replacing 

injected or intravenous versions of the same drugs. 

• Erythropoietin (EPO) is covered for treatment of anemia for persons with chronic renal 

failure who are undergoing dialysis when given in the dialysis center. 

• Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are covered, as are hepatitis B vaccines when 

beneficiaries are considered intermediate or high-risk. 

• Drugs that require administration via covered DME (e.g. nebulizer, infusion pump) in the 

beneficiary's home are covered, including parenteral nutrition for individuals with permanent 

dysfunction of the digestive tract. 

• To ensure that organ transplants covered by Medicare do not result in rejection, 

immunosuppressant drugs are covered for Medicare-covered transplants. 

Most of the rules for Part B coverage limit that coverage in some way: they must be used for a 

certain condition, or by a certain type of beneficiary, or in a certain location. Thus, there are other 

circumstances when these drugs are not covered by Part B – and are eligible for coverage by Part D 

plans. Appendix A shows in more detail the rules about when drugs are covered under Part B and 

when they are covered under Part D. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and the 
5

National Association of Chain Drug Stores (PCMA/NACDS) estimate that there are approximately 

6,000 products (unique NDC numbers) that could potentially have coverage available under either 

Part B or Part D. 1

In this project, we conducted interviews in early 2007 with individuals at health plans, pharmacies, 

and trade organizations to discuss the issues they have encountered in dispensing and adjudicating 

claims for drugs that could be covered either by Part B or by Part D. Because so many of these 

drugs can be purchased under either part of Medicare, we asked stakeholders how they determined 

whether to bill Medicare Part B or the beneficiary’s Part D plan. The key findings from these 

interviews included the following: 

o In general, drugs that can be covered under either Part B or Part D are consuming 

considerable time and energy for health plans and pharmacies. According to one survey, 

half of pharmacists were having problems in resolving coverage. 

o Stakeholders report that the process of determining whether a drug is covered under Part B 

or D of Medicare has improved since Part D was introduced in January of 2006. Room for 

improvement and clarification remains, however. 

o Medicare simplified the determination process for some groups of drugs, such as 

chemotherapy agents, by determining that whenever a drug is dispensed at retail pharmacy, it 

cannot meet the requirements for Part B coverage (i.e., being incident to a physician’s 

service). Pharmacists and plans found this clarification very helpful. 

 

o Some drugs with overlap issues may be much more likely to be covered under one program 

or the other. For example, PCMA/NACDS reports that data from the IMS National 

Disease and Therapeutic Index shows only 2% of prednisone use is for transplant patients – 

which might be covered by Part B -- while the other 98% of usage would be covered under 

Part D.2

Other stakeholder comments are included in this report as they relate to our findings on coverage 

and cost. In addition, at the end of this report we have included some more specific issues that 

stakeholders raised related to ways the current system could be improved.

Part D Coverage of Drugs Commonly Used in Part B 

In Part B, drug coverage is determined by category. If a drug meets the requirements of a category – 

such as being administered incident to a physician’s service, or being an immunosuppressant – it will 

generally be covered by Part B. In contrast, Part D plans are given the flexibility to create limited 

formularies that pick and chose among individual drugs, as long as the plans fulfill basic 

requirements about the number of drugs that must be covered in each therapeutic class. The 

coverage of Part B drugs by the plans participating in Part D varies substantially, with some drugs 

 

1 PCMA/NACDS. 2006. White paper: Proposed solutions to the Medicare Part B/Part D coverage overlap. 

Unpublished paper. November 15. 

2 Ibid. 
6

covered by all plans and one drug covered by just 24% of plans. Likewise, tier placement and 

utilization management also differ from plan to plan. 

We used plan formulary files provided by CMS to determine coverage, tier status, and utilization 

management requirements for a group of 276 chemical entities that could be covered by either Part 

B or Part D of Medicare.3 For these chemical entities, there are 460 different products with 

different trade names. The full drug product list in our analysis is helpful in determining how plans 

tend to differentiate along the characteristics of trade name when setting formulary policy. Our 

analysis of chemical entities ignores plan coverage policies for brand name drugs that have generic 

equivalents and focuses instead on how plans treat those generics – the most likely version of a drug 

to be covered, and we focus on those results here. Results are shown for all drug products for our 

studied chemical entities in Appendix B.4

There are 3464 plans altogether in our analytic file for 2007, 1598 of which are MA plans and 1866 

PDP plans. There are considerably fewer separate decision-makers, however, because some 

organizations offer many different plans. Thus, for example, Humana offers three different PDPs in 

each of 34 regions, accounting for 102 of the 1866 PDPs. The organization also offers a large 

number of Medicare Advantage plans. Although we know that enrollment is not evenly distributed 

among plans, at the time of this analysis we did not have 2007 enrollment figures that could be used 

to perform a weighted analysis of 2007 formularies. 

We first considered how often our sample of drugs are covered by Medicare Part D plans. If they 

are covered, we determined the tiers on which they are covered for various plans. We also 

determined whether plans require prior authorization for each drug in our sample. More detailed 

results by drug on each of these measures (organized by drug class) are available in Appendix C. 

Coverage 

On average, the chemical entities on our list were covered by 75% of the Part D plans. The vast 

majority of drugs (93%) are covered by at least half the Part D plans (Table 1). 

There are only fifteen drugs that are listed as covered by all plans. Several of these fall into 

protected classes in which plans are expected to cover every drug, such as immunosuppressants and 

antipsychotics. 

Many Part D plans have open formularies, listing all drugs on the reference file as covered. Nearly all 

drugs on our list were listed as covered on the formularies of at least a quarter of Part D plans. The 

least covered chemical entity, at 24% of plans, is chorionic gonadotropin, a drug that is used as a 

fertility treatment. 

 

3 We selected drugs by identifying HCPCS codes for drugs that had Part B charges in 2004. We then used a CMS 

crosswalk to identify the drugs in the Part D Reference File that match those HCPCS codes. As a result, our list may 

not include drugs that have become available since 2004. It also does not include IV immune globulin, which has 

undergone recent changes in HCPCS codes. We include an additional analysis on the coverage of IV immune globulin 

in Appendix D. 

4 Our list of chemical entities includes 120 generics and 156 brand name drugs. Our list of drug products includes an 

additional 35 generic versions of those chemical entities (typically branded generics) and an additional 147 brand name 

versions. 
7

Table 1. Frequency of Coverage, 2007 

Of 460 Drug Products, Number 

Covered By... 

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of Part D plans 15 5%

90% or more of Part D plans 70 25%

75% or more of Part D plans 131 47%

50% or more of Part D plans 257 93%

25% or more of Part D plans 275 100%

10% or more of Part D plans 276 100%

0 Part D plans 0 0%

We have selected the ten chemical entities on our list with the highest total Part B charges in 2004 to 

explore in further depth in this section (Table 2). Three of these drugs were more likely than 

average to be covered: Lupron Depot, Remicade, and Neulasta. Two were notably less likely than 

average to be covered: Rituxan and Taxotere. These two drugs are in a category – anti-neoplastics – 

in which plans must cover “all or substantially all” of the drugs, or gain an exception from CMS. 

However, because these drugs are almost always supplied in a physician’s office (and thus covered 

by Part B), it may be that CMS has not applied the “all or substantially all” rule to them, or plans 

have sought exceptions to the rule. 

Table 2. Percent of Plans Covering Drug in 2007, 10 Drugs with Highest Total 2004 Part B 

Charges 

Generic Name Trade Name Drug group 

Percent of 

Plans Covering 

Drug 

Rituximab Rituxan Cancer or Cancer-related 58% 

Leuprolide 

Acetate Lupron Depot Hormonal Suppressants 90% 

Infliximab Remicade TNF Inhibitors 96% 

Pegfilgrastim Neulasta Colony stimulating Factor 84% 

Goserelin 

Acetate Zoladex Hormonal Suppressants 74% 

Docetaxel Taxotere Cancer or Cancer-related 67% 

Paclitaxel Paclitaxel Cancer or Cancer-related 70% 

Carboplatin Carboplatin Cancer or Cancer-related 74% 

Zoledronic Acid 

Monohydrate Zometa Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone 

Disease 72% 

Oxaliplatin Eloxatin Cancer or Cancer-related 72% 

Average, all 276 chemical entities 75% 
8

Table 3. Percent of Plans Covering Drug, by Class, 2007 

Coverage varies somewhat by drug class (Table 3). Insulins and TNF inhibitors are the most likely 

to be covered, with average coverage rates of over 90%. Several classes, including antibiotics, 

respiratory drugs, parathyroid/metabolic bone disease drugs, and certain cancer drugs, are coveed 

slightly less than three-quarters of the time, on average. 

According to CMS policy, all drugs in the immunosuppressant category, used to prevent organ 

rejection after transplants, are required to be covered by Part D plans unless they appeal to use a 

different categorization or make a case to cover less than all. Thus, it is notable that on average, 

drugs in this class are covered by only 85% of plans. It is possible that our list of 

immunosuppressants differs from the list plans were required to cover or that it includes some 

versions of the drugs for which coverage is not required. Several drugs in this class are covered by 

all plans, while others have less than complete coverage. Most notably, the anti-thymocyte globulins 

in this class, Atgam and Thymoglobulin, are covered by fewer than half the plans. Still, coverage of 

drugs in this class is higher than the average for all drugs that we studied. 

Tier Status 

In addition to coverage status, we looked at tier placement of the drugs on our list. While some Part 

D plans follow the standard 25% coinsurance model described in the law, most have taken 

advantage of the program’s flexibility to establish tiered benefit plans with different levels of cost 

sharing for each tier. Some plans use tiers to differentiate between brands and generics, while others 

distinguish further between preferred and non-preferred brands. 

For this analysis, we consider as preferred the following tiers: 

 Any generic tier 

 A brand tier in a plan that does not distinguish between preferred and non-preferred brands 

 A preferred brand tier 

 All drugs covered by a plan with standard 25% coinsurance 

Drug Group 

Percent of Plans 

Covering 

(Average of 

Drugs in Group) 

Immunosuppressants 85% 

TNF Inhibitors 96% 

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 72% 

Hormonal Suppressants 73% 

Anti-emetics 86% 

Other Cancer Drugs or Drugs Used 

With Cancer Treatments 72% 

Insulin 92% 

Respiratory 76% 

Antibiotics 74% 

Other 72% 

Average, all 276 chemical entities 75% 
9

Table 4. Frequency of Placement on a Preferred Tier, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Preferred 

By... 

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 21 8%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 91 33%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 149 54%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 206 75%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 267 97%

0 the plans that cover the drug 0 0%

About half the drugs on our list are on a preferred tier in a majority of the plans that cover them 

(Table 4). Of the 149 chemical entities that are preferred at least half the time, only 33 are brandname drugs. 

Tier structures may also include an additional tier for specialty drugs. Some plans include a similar 

tier for injectible drugs, which we are considering specialty tiers for this analysis when they have the 

same cost sharing requirements as a plan’s specialty tier.5 Plans generally charge 25% to 33% 

coinsurance for these tiers, and the drugs on them are generally quite expensive. CMS guidelines 

specify that drugs on a specialty tier must cost at least $500. 

Because the list of drugs we are studying is made up primarily of injectible drugs, they are much 

more likely to be assigned to a specialty or injectible tier than other drugs. All but a dozen chemical 

entities are on a specialty tier in at least one plan (Table 5). The drugs on our list that are never on 

the specialty tier include several inexpensive drugs like prednisone, methotrexate, and albuterol, 

primarily oral solids and inhalable drugs. 

Table 5. Frequency of Placement on a Specialty Tier, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Placed on 

a Specialty Tier By... 

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 1 0%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 25 9%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 76 28%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 118 43%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 220 80%

0 the plans that cover the drug 12 4%

 

5 There is no designation in CMS formulary files of which tiers are officially specialty tiers. Because we have included all 

tiers that “look like” specialty tiers, we have probably included some without that official designation. 
10

About a quarter of the drugs on our list are placed on a specialty tier by the majority of plans that 

cover them. Of these chemical entities that are on a specialty tier in more than half the plans that 

cover them, only 5 (of 76) are available as generics. 

One drug, Xolair, is covered by 71% of plans and is placed on the specialty tier in 90% of those 

plans. This expensive injectible drug is a monoclonal antibody used for treating asthma. 

The ten drugs with highest total charges in 2004 were all less likely than the average drug on our list 

to be placed on a preferred tier, and more likely than average to be placed on a specialty tier (Table 

6). This is not surprising, for these are high-cost, high-use drugs, and the use of the specialty tier 

limits plans’ costs and discourages beneficiary use. 

Table 6. Percent of Plans Placing Drug on a Preferred and Specialty Tiers in 2007, 10 Drugs 

with Highest Volume of 2004 Part B Charges 

Generic Name Trade Name 

Percent of Plans 

Placing Drug on 

Preferred Tier 

When Covered 

Percent of Plans 

Placing Drug on 

Specialty Tier 

When Covered 

Rituximab Rituxan 9% 74% 

Leuprolide Acetate Lupron Depot 17% 72% 

Infliximab Remicade 8% 82% 

Pegfilgrastim Neulasta 10% 81% 

Goserelin Acetate Zoladex 27% 57% 

Docetaxel Taxotere 16% 63% 

Paclitaxel Paclitaxel 23% 57% 

Carboplatin Carboplatin 42% 40% 

Zoledronic Acid 

Monohydrate Zometa 12% 73% 

Oxaliplatin Eloxatin 19% 58% 

Average of 276 Chemical Entities 53% 31% 

Some groups of drugs are far more likely to be on a preferred or specialty tier than others (Table 7). 

For example, the TNF inhibitors, a group of three expensive injectible drugs for treating rheumatoid 

arthritis, are the least likely to be on a preferred tier and the most likely to be on a specialty tier. 

None of these drugs has a generic alternative available. 

The hormonal suppressants such as Lupron, Zoladex, and Plenaxis, generally used to treat prostate 

cancer, are another expensive class of drugs quite likely to be placed on a specialty tier – over half of 

the time. On average, other cancer drugs are on a specialty tier in about two-fifths of plans. 

Despite their high cost, drugs in the immunosuppressant class are relatively less likely than other 

drugs on our list to be placed on a specialty tier. However, two drugs in this class, Zenapax and 

Thymoglobulin, are on a specialty tier in two-thirds of the plans that cover them. 
11

Insulin is the drug on our list most likely to be on a preferred tier. Most versions of insulin are on a 

specialty tier in only one of the 3464 plans. The Glucagon emergency kit, an insulin injection 

available for severe cases of hypoglycemia, is on a specialty tier in 6% of plans. 

Table 7. Percent of Plans Placing Drug on a Preferred and Specialty Tiers, by Class, 2007 

Percent of Plans Placing Drug on Tier When Covered 

(Average of Chemical Entities in Group) 

Drug Group Preferred Specialty 

Immunosuppressants 65% 21% 

TNF Inhibitors 14% 80% 

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 40% 25% 

Hormonal Suppressants 34% 53% 

Anti-emetics 72% 16% 

Other Cancer Drugs or Drugs Used 

With Cancer Treatments 43% 43% 

Insulin 90% 1% 

Respiratory 72% 15% 

Antibiotics 57% 22% 

Other 49% 32% 

Average of studied drugs 53% 31% 

Use of Prior Authorization and Other Utilization Management Tools 

The plans we interviewed reported that they commonly use prior authorization to gather the 

information needed to determine whether a drug should be covered under Part B or Part D. Plans 

vary in the information that they request when making a prior authorization determination. 

Pharmacists report that plans are most likely to ask for diagnosis information in their prior 

authorization requirements. Some plans also request information on the indications for the drugs, a 

statement from the prescriber, or proof of denial from Part B. Procedures also vary, for example, in 

terms of whether a telephone response or written statement is required. 

If physicians write the needed information on the prescription, prior authorization can be 

immediate. However, few physicians have begun to do this; primary care physicians are especially 

unlikely to do so. Respondents were not optimistic that this behavior would change, except possibly 

among physicians that prescribe a high volume of drugs covered by both Part B and Part D (e.g., 

specialists such as rheumatologists). Patients may also have legitimate privacy concerns about their 

diagnoses being listed on prescriptions. 

Prior authorization requirements may be particularly inconvenient for the beneficiary and their 

physician. One stakeholder reported that some physicians have begun to require appointments to 

meet with beneficiaries, and that some physician groups feel overwhelmed by the volume of prior 

authorization requests they receive. 
12

There are a large number of drugs that overlap between Part B and Part D for which the only Part B 

coverage is when they are administered in a doctor’s office. In 2006, CMS made the clarification 

that for these drugs, plans and pharmacies could assume that when a beneficiary presents a 

prescription for that drug at a retail pharmacy, it is for home use and not eligible for Part B 

coverage. This reduced the number of drugs for which B/D determinations had to be made. 

Nonetheless, many of these injectible drugs are quite expensive, and plans have maintained prior 

authorization requirements (Table 8). For example, Somatropin, a synthetic human growth 

hormone that is not available in generic form, is subject to prior authorization at least 90% of the 

times that it is covered. 

Table 8. Frequency of Prior Authorization Requirements, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Required 

to Have Prior Authorization By... 

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 1 0%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 12 4%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 50 18%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 94 34%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 204 74%

0 of the plans that cover the drug 2 1%

Given CMS guidance, we would expect more widespread prior authorization requirements for drugs 

that could be covered by either Part B or Part D even when dispensed at the retail pharmacy. For 

example, coverage of immunosuppressants depends on whether Medicare covered the transplant, 

and coverage of oral anti-emetics depends on whether they are taken within 48 hours of 

chemotherapy. Furthermore, some oral drugs are covered by Part B when they are used to treat 

cancer but not for other indications. For example, the drug methotrexate was developed to treat 

cancer but is sometimes used to treat autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. 

However, drugs in these categories are not uniformly subject to a high rate of prior authorization 

(Table 9). Rather, only the high-cost drugs in these categories frequently face that requirement. 

This is consistent with our discussion with one plan that told us they had chosen not to use prior 

authorization for low-cost drugs like prednisone and methotrexate because the labor cost of doing 

this check can be more than the cost of the drug. This plan indicated that they preferred to risk 

some incorrect payments (paying for some drugs that should have been covered by Part B) in favor 

of lower overhead costs. 
13

Table 9. Prior Authorization in Part D for Selected Oral Solids Also Covered by Part B, 2007 

Generic Name Trade Name Drug Group 

% of Part 

D Plans 

Covering 

Chemical 

Entity 

Of Plans 

Covering, % 

Requiring 

Prior 

Authorization 

Median 

Negotiated 

Price for a 

Month’s 

Supply 

Azathioprine Azathioprine Immunosupp. 100% 38% $76

Cyclosporine Cyclosporine Immunosupp. 95% 71% $1165

Mycophenolate 

Mofetil Cellcept Immunosupp. 94% 65% $695

Prednisolone Prednisolone Immunosupp. 98% 8% $6

Prednisone Prednisone Immunosupp. 100% 4% $3

Sirolimus Rapamune Immunosupp. 100% 67% $234

Tacrolimus Prograf Immunosupp. 100% 67% $654

Methotrexate Methotrexate Cancer/RA 98% 18% $20

Aprepitant Emend Anti-emetics 100% 74% $599

Methylprednisolone Methylprednisolone Anti-emetics 100% 8% $8

Table 10. Percent of Plans Placing Requiring Prior Authorization in 2007, 10 Drugs with 

Highest Volume of 2004 Part B Charges 

Generic Name Trade Name 

Percent of Plans 

Requiring Prior 

Authorization 

When Covered 

Rituximab Rituxan 66%

Leuprolide 

Acetate Lupron Depot 57%

Infliximab Remicade 87%

Pegfilgrastim Neulasta 60%

Goserelin 

Acetate Zoladex 50%

Docetaxel Taxotere 20%

Paclitaxel Paclitaxel 18%

Carboplatin Carboplatin 23%

Zoledronic Acid 

Monohydrate Zometa 20%

Oxaliplatin Eloxatin 27%

Average of 276 Chemical Entities 27%

Several of the Part B drugs with the highest total Part B charges are more likely than average to be 

subject to prior authorization (Table 10). For some drugs, such as Remicade and Rituxan, twothirds or more of plans require prior authorization. At the same time, there are several drugs on our 

list that are at or below the average for this group of drugs. 
14

We also found variation by class in the rate of prior authorization requirements (Table 11). Again, 

this appears to be associated with what we know about the typical cost of drugs in a class. For 

example, along with being the class most likely to be on a specialty tier, the TNF inhibitors are also 

the most likely to be subject to prior authorization. 

Insulin, which is relatively inexpensive, is less likely than other Part B drugs to require prior 

authorization when it is covered under Part D. In general, vials of insulin are not subject to prior 

authorization requirements, but prefilled pens or innolets (devices that help measure doses) are more 

likely to have a prior authorization requirement. 

Table 11. Percent of Plans Requiring Prior Authorization, by Class, 2007 

Drug Group 

Percent of Plans Requiring Prior 

Authorization When Drug Is Covered 

(Average of Chemical Entities in Group) 

Immunosuppressants 51% 

TNF Inhibitors 86% 

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 20% 

Hormonal Suppressants 50% 

Anti-emetics 26% 

Other Cancer 27% 

Insulin 2% 

Respiratory 36% 

Antibiotics 11% 

Other 27% 

Average of studied drugs 27% 

CMS requires plans to report the use of two other utilization management tools: step therapy 

(where a different drug must be tried by the patient before permitting dispensing of the drug in 

question) and quantity limits (where the supply of the drug is limited to a certain number of doses in 

a given time period). Only one drug has a step therapy requirement for as many as 10% of plans 

(itraconazole), and the vast majority never require step therapy. Quantity limits are used more 

frequently, but based on other research we know that plans use quantity limits in different ways. For 

example, drug plans often use quantity limit flags to limit supplies to no more than 30 days or 

restrict the number of units dispensed for drugs with normal dosing other than on a daily basis. 

Because the specific nature of each quantity limit is not available, we have not included an analysis of 

quantity limits in this report. 
15

Comparison of Prices for Drugs Covered in Part B and Part D 

Determining the proper treatment of drugs under Part B and Part D requires an understanding of 

how pricing and cost sharing work in the two parts of the Medicare program. In Part B, CMS 

recently implemented a policy to pay for drugs on the basis of the Average Sales Price (ASP) – the 

average of the prices that the manufacturer reports receiving for the drug, taking into account any 

rebates and discounts that the manufacturer provides. CMS adds a 6% payment to cover additional 

costs incurred in acquisition of the drug. 

In Part D, there is no set price for drugs. Each plan negotiates with pharmacies to determine the 

reimbursements they will provide – often at some discount off the list price of the drug. In periods 

when the beneficiary must pay the full price of the drug, or when cost sharing is calculated as a 

percentage of the price, this is the amount that is used to calculate the beneficiary’s costs. Plans also 

negotiate with brand name manufacturers to receive additional discounts. However, these discounts 

often come in the form of lump-sum rebates and are not reflected in the price of the retail 

transaction. Furthermore, rebate amounts are considered proprietary and are not available for 

research purposes. 

We find that for most drugs we examined, the negotiated price reported by Part D plans is higher 

than ASP+6%. One reason for this pattern among brand name drugs may be the exclusion of 

rebates from the reported Part D price. It may be that in the end, Part D plans pay no more than 

Part B for a drug, but the final price is not seen at the point of the retail transaction and thus not in 

our database. For generic drugs, there are other irregularities in the way prices are reported that may 

be driving the differences between Part B and Part D. 

The way beneficiary cost sharing is set also varies between the two programs. In Part B, 

beneficiaries pay 20% coinsurance for all drugs. In Part D, coinsurance varies both depending on 

the stage of the benefit (deductible, initial coverage period, coverage gap, or catastrophic coverage) 

and on the design of the plan’s cost sharing. While some plans use the “standard” benefit of 25% 

coinsurance after the deductible is met and before the coverage gap is reached, most have opted for 

a tiered coinsurance structure that varies cost sharing by type of drug. We find that for most drugs, 

a beneficiary will pay more than 20% coinsurance under Part D, although this changes depending on 

the cost of the drug. Because the standard benefit is higher than 20%, this result is a direct 

consequence of Part D’s design. 

Cost sharing can be further affected by other coverage that beneficiaries have. For example, 

Medigap policies or supplemental insurance from former employers may cover some or all of a 

beneficiary’s 20% coinsurance under Part B. Low-income beneficiaries may also face much lower 

cost sharing if they are enrolled in Medicaid and/or the low-income subsidy for Part D. We do not 

attempt to account for all possible variations of beneficiary cost sharing in this report, looking 

instead at the simplest case of a beneficiary who has Medicare only. 

In this section, we investigate the cost differences between the two programs. We selected a list of 

49 drugs and one combination of three drugs that are usually taken together, for a total of 50 prices. 

For each, we determined a common dosing schedule and calculated the annual cost under Part B. 

In February and March 2007, we collected information on prices from the CMS Plan Finder website 
16

for the same dosing schedule from the 47 PDPs that participate on a national or near-national basis 

in Part D. We use the median negotiated price and cost sharing amount for these 47 plans to 

represent typical prices for Part D. Tables showing price data for each of the 50 drugs are provided 

in Appendix E. Further details on our methodology are provided in Appendix F. 

Total Spending 

For all but five of the drugs we examined, the negotiated price reported on the Plan Finder website 

is higher than the ASP+6% price used by Part B (Table 12). The majority of drugs have a Part D 

negotiated price within 50% of the Part B price. 

Table 12. Frequency of Ratio Between Part D Negotiated Price and Part B Price (ASP+6%), 

2007 

Part D Price Compared to Part B Price Number of Drugs 

Part D Negotiated Price is lower than ASP+6% 5 

Part D Negotiated Price is higher, but less than 10% more 12 

Part D Negotiated Price is 10-25% more 9 

Part D Negotiated Price is 25-50% more 3 

Part D Negotiated Price is 50-100% more 4 

Part D Negotiated Price is more than 100% more 17 

We know of three notable problems with the available data on drug prices. First, ASP may not 

always be accurate: manufacturers not participating in the Medicaid best price program are not 

required to report data for ASP. Second, the negotiated price reported on the Plan Finder website 

may not be accurate. CMS has stated that some prices may be a proxy value. However, we do not 

know how common this is.6 It is likely that these first two problems are more pronounced for 

generic drugs. Of the 16 generic drugs on our list, 14 are outliers: either cheaper in Part D (3 drugs) 

or more than 50 percent more than the Part B price (11 drugs). In general, pricing of generic drugs 

is more variable than for brand drugs. 

The third problem with data on drug prices, as described above, is that the reported prices do not 

take into account manufacturer rebates. Rather than being reflected in the retail prices of drugs, 

rebates should lead to reductions in the premiums that plan enrollees pay to Part D plans. This 

problem is relevant for many (if not all) brand-name drugs, but rebates are rarely used for generics. 

Beneficiary Cost Sharing as a Share of Total Costs 

In Part B, the beneficiary always pays 20% of the cost of a drug. In Part D, the beneficiary’s cost 

sharing as a percent of cost is related to both the plan’s cost sharing requirements and the total cost 

of their drugs. For the drugs we examined, a beneficiary’s cost sharing ranges from 11% to 100% of 

the total cost. Cost sharing varies as a beneficiary moves through the deductible, initial coverage 

period, coverage gap, and catastrophic benefit. 

 

6 Some evidence of this phenomenon comes from the clustering of prices observed in data collected from the Plan 

Finder. 
17

In the Deductible: If total drug spending for the year is under $265 and the plan has a standard 

deductible, beneficiaries will pay 100% of the cost of their drugs. The full-year cost of 

several of the drugs on our list, including several antiemetics, would be less than this 

deductible amount. 

Under the Initial Coverage Limit: When their total spending is between $265 and the initial 

coverage limit ($2,400), beneficiaries pay coinsurance or cost sharing set by the plan. For the 

drugs on our list that have a total annual cost in this range, beneficiaries would pay an 

average of about 33% of the cost of the drug (including the deductible and other cost 

sharing). 

Over the Initial Coverage Limit: After total spending reaches the initial coverage limit, the 

beneficiary pays 100% of the cost of the drug until they reach the catastrophic cap. For the 

drugs we studied that have a total annual cost over $2400 but too low to reach the 

catastrophic cap, the proportion of total costs paid by the beneficiary typically is about 70%. 

Over the Catastrophic Cap: Beneficiary spending falls to just 5% of the cost of a drug after the 

catastrophic cap is reached ($3,500 in out-of-pocket spending). Thus, beneficiary costs as a 

proportion of total costs can be much lower for very expensive drugs. 

o For an annual supply of each of three very expensive drugs on our list, average 

beneficiary spending would be less than 20% of the negotiated price: the injectible 

immunosuppressants Prograf ($59,249/year), Atgam ($33,904/year), and 

cyclosporine ($24,965/year). 

o Three more drugs on our list -- TNF inhibitors Humira ($16,068/year), Enbrel 

($16,068/year), and Remicade ($14,279/year) -- would also push a beneficiary into 

the catastrophic benefit. Beneficiary spending would be about 30% of the total 

negotiated price for an annual supply of each of these drugs. 

The above examples consider only one drug at a time, thus making the unrealistic assumption that 

the drug in question is the only drug the beneficiary takes (or at least the only one paid under Part 

D). Clearly, nearly all beneficiaries with health conditions that require the drugs in this analysis will 

be taking multiple drugs. The following example shows how a beneficiary’s share of costs can 

change when that beneficiary also uses other drugs. 

Prochlorperazine is a very inexpensive anti-emetic drug used to prevent the nausea associated with 

chemotherapy. A patient receiving chemotherapy twice a month might spend just $3.27 per month 

on this drug. Over the course of a whole year, a beneficiary filling prescriptions only for 

prochlorperazine under Part D (assuming, for example, that chemotherapy drugs are covered under 

Part B) would not reach the standard Part D deductible of $265, and would pay the full cost of the 

drug (Table 13). 

If that beneficiary did have other drug costs, however, she would reach other stages of the Part D 

benefit. For example, with an additional $25 in spending each month, the beneficiary would pay the 

deductible and reach the initial coverage period, and the beneficiary’s share of spending would fall to 

86%. With an additional $100 spending each month, even more of the beneficiary’s spending would 

fall under the initial coverage period, and the beneficiary’s share of total annual spending would fall 

to 43%. 
18

Table 13. Beneficiary’s Share of Costs as Drug Spending for Other Drugs Increases 

 Annual Part D Costs 

Benefit Stage 

Completed 

 Total Monthly Cost Plan Beneficiary Total 

% Paid by 

Beneficiary 

deductible initial coverage period coverage gap 

Prochlorperazine: 

$3.27/month $0 $39 $39 100% 

+ $25/month $48 $291 $339 86% * 

+ $100/month $712 $527 $1,239 43% * 

+ $250/month $1,550 $1,490 $3,039 49% * * 

+ $500/month $2,155 $3,885 $6,039 64% * * * 

+ $1000/month $7,849 $4,191 $12,039 35% * * * 

+ $2500/month $24,955 $5,084 $30,039 17% * * * 

With an additional $250 in spending each month, the beneficiary would pass the initial coverage 

period and enter the coverage gap. As more of the beneficiary’s spending falls in the coverage gap, 

the beneficiary’s share of total spending rises again. A beneficiary with $500 a month in additional 

spending beyond a prescription for prochlorperazine – enough to reach the catastrophic cap in 

November – would pay 64% of total annual costs. 

Finally, as a beneficiary has more spending during the catastrophic benefit, the share of spending 

covered by the beneficiary falls again. A beneficiary with $1000 a month in additional spending 

would pay 35% of annual costs, and a beneficiary with $2500 a month in additional spending would 

pay 17% of annual costs. 

Absolute Beneficiary Spending 

For the drugs we examined, beneficiary spending in Part D is almost always higher than in Part B. 

In general this is due to the two factors described above. First, the negotiated price reported by Part 

D plans is usually higher, and sometimes thousands of dollars higher, than the full price paid under 

Part B. Second, the structure of the Part D benefit makes it uncommon for a beneficiary to pay less 

than 20% of the cost of a drug unless they have reached the catastrophic cap. Again, this analysis of 

individual drugs does not take into account cases in which an individual beneficiary might pay less or 

more for a group of drugs if, as a group, they cause the beneficiary to reach a different stage of the 

benefit sooner. In fact, many beneficiaries using these drugs might reach catastrophic coverage 

based on all their drug usage, lowering their effective percentage of costs paid out of pocket. 

For the majority of drugs that we studied (26 of 50), over the couse of a year a beneficiary would pay 

between $1 and $500 more in a typical PDP than they would pay for the same drug in Part B (Table 

14). For 20 of the 50 drugs we studied, the amount a beneficiary would spend under Part D is more 

than $1,000 greater than the amount a beneficiary would spend under Part B. The difference is 

more than $2,000 for 15 drugs, and more than $3,000 for 4 drugs. 
19

Table 14. Frequency of Difference Between Annual Beneficiary Costs in Part D and Part B, 

2007 

Part D Cost Compared to Part B Cost Number of Drugs 

Part D cost is lower than Part B cost 3 

Part D cost is higher, but less than $100 more 10 

Part D cost is $100-$250 more 8 

Part D cost is $250-$500 more 8 

Part D cost is $500-$1000 more 1 

Part D cost is $1000-$2000 more 5 

Part D cost is $2000-$3000 more 12 

Part D cost is more than $3000 more 3 

The six drugs with the largest absolute differences in beneficiary costs are all in the hormonal 

suppressant class, drugs that are typically used to treat prostate cancer. All have a difference of more 

than $2,300 between beneficiary spending in Part B and Part D. The drugs include the four versions 

of leuprolide acetate on our list (including the generic daily form and the branded, long-acting 

versions known as Lupron Depot and Viadur, generally given on a monthly or annual basis), Trelstar 

Depot, and Zoladex. 

Four of the six HCPCS codes associated with these drugs are frequently subject to a “least costly 

alternative” policy in Part B. Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of the least costly drug in this 

class. If a beneficiary and his or her doctor decide to use a more expensive drug instead, the 

beneficiary pays 20% of the cheapest drug’s cost, plus the full cost difference between the two 

drugs.7 There are large differences in beneficiary prices between Part B and Part D with or without 

this policy. This is in part because negotiated prices reported in Part D are much higher than 

ASP+6%. For five of these drugs, the Part D negotiated price is more than double ASP+6%. This 

is suggestive, but not conclusive, evidence that the least costly alternative policy may be encouraging 

lower prices for these drugs in Part B. 

Another factor contributing to the large difference in beneficiary costs between Part B and Part D 

drugs for the hormonal suppressants is that beneficiaries using these drugs will enter the coverage 

gap, and only have catastrophic coverage for a small portion of their total spending (if they take no 

other drugs). Beneficiaries using leuprolide or Lupron Depot under Part D would pay 50% to 60% 

of the total cost of their drug; they would pay 63% for Trelstar Depot, 71% for Zoladex, and 80% 

for Viadur. 

Four expensive immunosuppressants also have differences of more than $2,000 between annual Part 

B and Part D beneficiary spending: Thymoglobulin, oral Prograf, Cellcept, and oral cyclosporine. 

The difference between the total price in Part B and the total price in Part D is smaller for these 

drugs than for the hormonal suppressants. The three branded products all have Part D prices 

within 20% of the Part B price. Cyclosporine has a negotiated Part D price 46% more than 

ASP+6%. However, because the price of these drugs is so high – ranging from $7,843/year to 

$13,985/year in Part D – the absolute differences in price are large even though the relative 

differences are small. The smallest difference between ASP+6% and the full Part D price is about 

$1,000 for Prograf; the largest is about $4,500 for cyclosporine. Because these drugs are more 

 

7 American Urological Association. “Drugs Covered in State LCA Policy.” Available at 

http://www.auanet.org/coding/reimburse/lcadrugs.pdf ; accessed July 20, 2007. 
20

expensive than the hormonal suppressants, beneficiaries reach the catastrophic cap earlier. 

Beneficiaries using oral Prograf or Cellcept will pay about 50% of the cost of the drug; those using 

Thymoglobulin will pay about 38% and those using oral cyclosporine will pay only 30% of the cost 

of the drug. Still, this cost sharing amounts to much more than 20% of the lower Part B cost. 

A beneficiary’s annual cost sharing would be lower under Part D than under Part B for only 3 of the 

50 drugs we studied, assuming these drugs are the only drugs they take. For two of these drugs, the 

injectible immunosuppressants Prograf and Atgam, beneficiaries in Part D are helped by the 

catastrophic benefit. A beneficiary using only Prograf would spend $4,890 less under Part D than 

under Part B, while a beneficiary using only Atgam would spend $356 less under Part D. For the 

third drug, trimethobenzamide, the difference stems from the fact that ASP+6% for a montly 

supply of the drug is reported as $32, while Part D plans report a negotiated price of just $4 for the 

same monthly dose. Although our models show beneficiaries paying full price for the drug under 

the Part D deductible, $4 per month is lower than 20% of the Part B price. 

Plan and Medicare Spending 

Taking into account beneficiary cost sharing, the amount a Part D plan pays is less than Part B’s 

80% share of drug costs for 34 of the 50 drugs we examined (Table 15). Despite the fact that total 

costs are generally more under Part D, the fact that beneficiary cost sharing is higher means that Part 

D plans often pay less than Part B. 

Table 15. Frequency of Difference Between Annual Plan or Government Costs in Part D 

and Part B, 2007 

Part D Cost Compared to Part B Cost Number of Drugs 

Part D plan cost is more than $1000 lower than 

Part B’s government cost 

10 

Part D cost is $100-$1000 lower 11 

Part D cost is less than $100 lower 13 

Part D cost is less than $100 higher 2 

Part D cost is $100-$1000 more 8 

Part D cost is more than $1000 more 6 

However, for 16 of our 50 drugs, the Part D plan cost is higher than Medicare’s Part B payment for 

the same drug. For the three drugs with the largest price differences – the infused or injected 

immunosuppressants cyclosporine, Atgam, and Prograf – this is partly because the catastrophic 

coverage in Part D actually pushes the beneficiary’s share below 20%. For the other drugs, however, 

the beneficiary pays more than 20% of the cost, but this is outweighed by a higher overall price in 

Part D. 

Case Study: A Beneficiary in the First Two Years After an Organ Transplant 

As a case study of how some of these factors play out in a complicated drug regimen, we consulted 

with a pharmacist who specializes in working with transplant patients. Table 16 shows the drugs a 

transplant patient would typically receive immediately after transplant, as well as the less complicated 

(but still quite expensive) regimen that a relatively healthy patient might follow in subsequent years. 
21

Table 16. Cost of a Typical Drug Regimen for a Medicare Beneficiary Who Has a 

Transplant on January 1 

Part B Part D 

Generic Name Brand Name Medicare Beneficiary Plan Beneficiary 

FIRST YEAR AFTER TRANSPLANT 

 Antithymocyte globulin 

 (rabbit) Thymoglobulin $4,238 $1,059 $2,666 $3,965

 Methylprednisolone Medrol 

 Prednisone (generic) $71 $18 $40 $2

 Tacrolimus Prograf $2,074 $518 $2,691 $142

 Sirolimus Rapamune $3,121 $780 $2,001 $105

 Mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept $5,868 $1,467 $7,923 $417

SUBTOTAL, FIRST YEAR, B/D DRUGS $15,372 $3,843 $15,321 $4,631

 Valganciclovir Valcyte (no coverage) $5,548 $292

 Nystatin (generic) (no coverage) $3 $0.15

 Sulfamethoxazole 

 and trimethoprim (generic) (no coverage) $80 $4

TOTAL, FIRST YEAR, ALL DRUGS $20,952 $4,928

SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS AFTER TRANSPLANT 

 Sirolimus Rapamune $4,161 $1,040 $1,817 $992

 Mycophenolate 

 mofetil Cellcept $5,868 $1,467 $5,244 $3,096

TOTAL, ONGOING $10,029 $2,507 $7,061 $4,088

In this example, a patient would receive one week of Thymoglobulin and Medrol in the hospital 

immediately after the transplant (this cost is not included in the example because it would be 

covered by Part A). Thymoglobulin would continue for one more week, at a cost of $5,296 in Part 

B or $6,631 in Part D. In the place of Medrol, the patient would continue taking oral prednisone, 

reducing the dose throughout the year. As the course of Thymoglobulin is ending, the patient 

would switch to oral doses of two other immunosuppressants: Prograf and Cellcept. After a few 

months, the patient might switch from Prograf to Rapamune to avoid ongoing issues with the 

nephrotoxicity of Prograf. The total cost of this regimen of immunosuppressant drugs in the first 

year after transplant is approximately $19,215 in Part B and $19,952 in Part D. Because the 

beneficiary would quickly reach the catastrophic cap, he would pay only 23% of costs in a typical 

Part D plan, still slightly more than 20% of costs in Part B. 

In the first months after transplant, and possibly much longer, the patient also requires antiviral, 

antifungal, and antibiotic medications. Because these drugs are not immunosuppressants, they are 

not covered by Part B. In this example, we have used Valcyte, Nystatin, and Sulfamethoxazole. The 

appropriate course of these drugs costs a total of $5,928 in a typical Part D plan. In our example, 

we have layered these on top of the course of immunosuppressants, which already caused the 

beneficiary to reach the catastrophic cap. Thus, we show a beneficiary as paying just under $300 for 

these three drugs. When the full course of immunosuppressants and other drugs is combined, a 

beneficiary would pay 19% of the total costs of the drugs. 

The use of Rapamune and Cellcept, or other equivalent drugs, continues indefinitely. We calculate 

that a full year of these two drugs would cost $12,537 in Part B and $11,149 in a typical Part D plan. 

With somewhat lower spending in the second year, the beneficiary has less spending over the 
22

catastrophic limit and pays 39% of drug costs in Part D, or about $1,500 more than he would pay 

under Part B for the same drugs. 

In these examples, we only consider the drugs our beneficiary takes that are related to his transplant. 

In most cases, this beneficiary would probably be taking at least some drugs for conditions unrelated 

to his transplant. If these were taken into account, she would reach catastrophic coverage even 

sooner – thus lowering his cost of drugs received from a typical Part D plan. 

Other Issues from Interviews 

In the interviews we conducted, respondents raised several issues not directly related to questions 

about Part D coverage and the differences in payments between Part B and Part D. Their 

comments relate to ways to make the current system easier for plans, pharmacies, and beneficiaries, 

and how they would fare under a system that consolidated all drug coverage under Part D.

Emergency Supplies of Drugs While a Coverage Decision is Made 

CMS currently does not allow beneficiaries to receive an emergency supply under Part D until a 

determination is made about whether the drug is covered under Part B. Beneficiaries may be 

delayed in receiving their drugs while the issue is resolved. Some pharmacists do provide an 

emergency supply, but they must absorb the cost if coverage is denied and the beneficiary cannot 

pay out of pocket. Some respondents suggested that Medicare should ensure better access to these 

drugs by creating a way to provisionally cover the drug while coverage issues are worked out. 

Challenges to Making B/D Determinations 

Certain drugs are covered by Part B if they involve the use of durable medical equipment, but only if 

they are used in the patient’s home. The same drugs are not eligible for Part B drug payments if 

they are used in a long-term care facility. Plans have begun using a location code to make a 

determination of whether the drug is covered by Part B. This is a simpler and more immediate 

solution than requiring prior authorization. 

Respondents noted that one of the more challenging determinations is whether an oral anti-emetic is 

being dispensed within 48 hours of chemotherapy, which determines whether it will be covered by B 

or D. Furthermore, a delay in dispensing could be very detrimental to the patient. 

Home Infusion 

Before the enactment of Medicare Part D, 24 infusion drugs that could be administered at home 

through DME were covered under Medicare Part B. Those medications still receive coverage under 

Part B, along with some of the services required for their administration. Likewise, for drugs 

administered in the physician’s office, the cost of any items needed to administer the drug is 

considered part of the administration fee and is thus covered under Part B. 

Many infusion drugs can be delivered at home or in long-term care, typically dispensed by a special 

pharmacy that works together with a home health agency or in a long-term care facility. Although 
23

these medications are covered through Part D, they require the use of equipment that is not 

reimburseable as DME. This may include items such as syringes, IV tubing, or bags, which the 

beneficiary must pay out of pocket. Some pharmacists indicate that they end up absorbing the costs 

of the equipment. It also has caused problems for providers of home infusion services, since Part D 

does not cover the supplies, equipment or staffing that accompanies most home infusion regimens. 

For dually eligible beneficiaries, Medicaid programs previously covered both the drugs and the cost 

of administration. Shifting the drugs into Part D has caused disruptions. In fact, one respondent 

reported that the changes were causing patients to be kept at hospitals or transferred to long-term 

care facilities to receive infusion treatments, rather than being able to receive them at home. He 

indicated further that the lack of reimbursement was causing access issues for some patients. For 

non-duals, coverage under Part D of drugs that can potentially be infused at home creates an 

opportunity to get patients home sooner. But this option may be prevented by the absence of 

payment for the administration and supplies. 

Vaccines 

Vaccines have not generally been a big issue in Medicare B and D reimbursement. One respondent 

speculated that the new shingles vaccine may be in higher demand. This would be a drug 

administered in the doctor’s office, but not covered by Part B because it is a preventive vaccine 

rather than a response to an injury or direct exposure to a disease. In its call letter to plans for 2008, 

CMS has provided new draft guidelines on how to reimburse Part D vaccine administration costs. 

These guidelines, however, were released after our interviews were complete. 

Brown Bagging for Physician-Administered Drugs 

In prior interviews with physicians and other stakeholders about drugs that can be paid for by either 

Part B or Part D, we heard anecdotal reports of physicians sending patients to pharmacies to 

“brown-bag” drugs for delivery in the physician’s office, thus shifting coverage for the drug to Part 

D instead of Part B. Typically, these drugs are infused or injected in the physician’s office. The 

physician may have the incentive to shift use to Part D in cases where ASP+6% does not cover 

acquisition costs. In other cases, the switch might help the beneficiary. For example, if the patient 

is already above the catastrophic limit under Part D, the coinsurance is only 5%. And if the patient 

qualifies for the low-income subsidy, cost sharing is minimal. 

We asked about this practice in our interviews of plans and pharmacies. In general, respondents did 

not seem to think it was a widespread practice. It may be that at the point of sale, most plans and 

pharmacies simply do not have any way of knowing whether patients are going to self-administer a 

drug or take it to their doctor’s office (although some of these drugs can only be administered by a 

physician). A few respondents suggested they were seeing increased cases of brown bagging. They 

indicated that not all pharmacies stock these drugs, but said most could do so with advance notice. 

Implications of Changing Which Programs Cover Certain Drugs 

Part D plans are open to having drugs switched to be covered by Part D only – and would welcome 

the change for some groups of drugs, as long as they have the lead time to include the cost of the 

drugs in their bids. Pharmacists say they prefer working with Part D plans, because their systems are 
24

more automated. Submitting pharmacy claims to Part B is more complicated, and payments are not 

made as quickly. Some pharmacists report problems, however, in working with both plans; a Part D 

plan may produce an online denial of a claim, while Plan B asks for a paper denial. Some 

stakeholders reported difficulty in obtaining a hard copy of denials from Part D plans. 

Conclusion 

In general, health plans and pharmacies report that coverage determinations for drugs that can be 

covered under either Part B or Part D are consuming considerable time and energy. Although the 

process of determining whether a drug is covered under Part B or D of Medicare has improved 

since January 2006, room for improvement and clarification remains. 

Many of the drugs that overlap between Part B and Part D are high-cost drugs that are administered 

by infusion or injection in the physician’s office. Although CMS has clarified that plans and 

pharmacies may assume that these drugs are covered by Part D when they are purchased in a retail 

pharmacy, Part D plans do not cover these drugs uniformly. When they are covered, high-cost 

drugs are likely to be placed on a specialty tier and to be subject to prior authorization. 

There are also low-cost drugs that may be covered in Part B or Part D. Even when it is unclear 

which part of Medicare should pay for the drug, plans are less likely to require prior authorization 

for these low-cost drugs. In some cases, the administrative cost of prior authorization may be 

higher than the cost of the drug itself. Both plans and pharmacists are concerned about the burden 

imposed by making these determinations. Even when plans forgo the use of prior authorization, 

they remain vulnerable to sanctions if drugs are incorrectly paid under Part D. 

By design, the Part D benefit is less generous than the Part B benefit. Cost sharing during the 

period between the deductible and the initial coverage limit is designed to be 25%, rather than the 

20% beneficiaries pay in Part B. In addition, a beneficiary’s total drug spending can dramatically 

change their effective cost sharing as illustrated by the examples in this report. For an inexpensive 

drug, the beneficiary may pay 100% if she never meets the deductible. For a very expensive drug or 

set of drugs, the beneficiary may actually pay less than 20% because of catastrophic coverage. In 

absolute terms, the difference in beneficiary cost sharing between the two programs can sometimes 

be in the thousands of dollars. These dynamics should be considered as policy makers consider any 

changes to which drugs should be covered under Part B or Part D. Interactions with supplemental 

coverage, Medicaid, and the low-income subsidy will also need to be considered. 

The finding that the negotiated prices reported by Part D plans are almost always higher than the 

price paid under Part B for 50 selected drugs may merit further study, although the role that 

manufacturer rebates play may be an explanation that cannot be studied due to lack of data. In 

particular, we did not pursue in this study some of the anomalies in generic prices that may point to 

structural issues in the ASP system, the Medicare Plan Finder, or both. 
25

Appendix A. Part B Coverage of Prescription Drugs 

Part B Coverage Categories 

Part B Coverage Description B/D Coverage Determinations That Must 

Be Made 

Other Is

Always Part D at Retail Pharmacy Injected or intravenous drugs 

Injectable/Intravenous drugs 1) administered “incident to” a physician service and 2) considered “not usually self-administered”. 

Always Part D at retail pharmacy. Medicar

professcovered 

Erythropoietin (EPO) Treatment of anemia for persons with chronic renal 

failure who are undergoing dialysis when given in the dialysis center or when given “incident to physician’s service” for other approved uses. 

Always Part D at retail pharmacy. For Part B coverage for dialysis patients, the claim must be submitted by the ESRD facility. 

Always Part B Influenza/Pneumococcal Vaccines 

Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines are covered for all beneficiaries. 

Always Part B. 

Coverage Depends on Beneficiary’s Diagnosis or History Oral Anti-Cancer Drugs 

Oral drugs used for cancer treatment that contain same active ingredient (or pro-drug) as drugs that would otherwise be covered incident to a physician’s service. 

Part B for cancer treatment; Part D for all other indications 

ParticipDMERC covered 

Vaccines Hepatitis B vaccine for intermediate- to high-risk 

beneficiaries. Other vaccines if “incident to” physician service, only for injury or direct exposure. 

Hepatitis:Part B if beneficiary is intermediateto high-risk; Part D if low-risk. All other vaccines: Part B if related to injury or exposure; otherwise Part D. 

Medicarassocia

Immunosuppressant Drugs 

Drugs used in immunosuppressive therapy for a Medicare-covered transplant. 

Part B when drugs used in relation to Medicare-covered transplant; Part D when drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis, other non-transplant use, or a transplant not covered by Medicare. 

ParticipDMERC covered 

Parenteral Nutrition Prosthetic benefit for individuals with “permanent” (or 

long and indefinite) dysfunction of the digestive tract. 

Part B if “permanent” dysfunction of digestive tract, Part D for all other situations. 

Medicarprofessparenteinfusion 

Coverage Depends on Beneficiary’s Diagnosis and Timing Oral Anti-emetic Drugs 

Oral anti-emetic drugs used as full therapeutic replacement for IV anti-emetic drugs within 48 hours of chemotherapy. 

Part B if used within 48 hours of chemotherapy; Part D if used beyond 48 hours of chemotherapy or for any nonchemotherapy-associated use. 

ParticipDMERC covered 

Coverage Depends on Location and Use of DME Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Supply Drugs 

Drugs that require administration via covered DME (e.g. nebulizer, infusion pump) in the beneficiary's home. 

At retail pharmacy Part B coverage depends on use of DME; usually Part D in LTC facilities because most LTC facilities are not considered a beneficiary’s “home.” 

Medicarprofesscovered 

Source: NACDS
26

Appendix B. Summary Tables by Covered Entity and Drug Product 

In the body of this report, we present information on coverage of drugs at the chemical entity level (e.g., all 

loratadine products would be one chemical entity). This appendix provides additional information for some 

of the tables from the report at the level of drug product (e.g., counting loratadine and Claritin as two 

separate products). Tables are numbered to match the corresponding table in the body of this report. 

Table B1. Frequency of Coverage, 2007 

Of 460 Drug Products, Number 

Covered By... 

# of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460) 

% of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460) 

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of Part D plans 15 3% 15 5% 

90% or more of Part D plans 80 17% 70 25% 

75% or more of Part D plans 160 35% 131 47% 

50% or more of Part D plans 383 83% 257 93% 

25% or more of Part D plans 457 99% 275 100% 

10% or more of Part D plans 460 100% 276 100% 

0 Part D plans 0 0% 0 0% 

Table B3. Percent of Plans Covering Drug, by Class, 2007 

Percent of Plans Covering Drug 

Drug Group 

Average of Drug 

Products in 

Group 

Average of 

Chemical Entities 

in Group 

Immunosuppressants 73% 85% 

TNF Inhibitors 97% 96% 

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 67% 72% 

Hormonal Suppressants 69% 73% 

Anti-emetics 75% 86% 

Other Cancer Drugs or Drugs Used 

With Cancer Treatments 67% 72% 

Insulin 86% 92% 

Respiratory 62% 76% 

Antibiotics 65% 74% 

Other 67% 72% 

Average, studied drugs 69% 75% 
27

Table B4. Frequency of Placement on a Preferred Tier, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Preferred 

By... 

# of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

% of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0% 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 36 8% 21 8%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 124 27% 91 33%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 222 48% 149 54%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 325 71% 206 75%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 443 96% 267 97%

0 the plans that cover the drug 0 0% 0 0%

Table B5. Frequency of Placement on a Specialty Tier, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Placed on 

a Specialty Tier By... 

# of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

% of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0% 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 1 0% 1 0%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 39 8% 25 9%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 114 25% 76 28%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 177 38% 118 43%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 358 78% 220 80%

0 the plans that cover the drug 31 7% 12 4%

Table B7. Percent of Plans Placing Drug on a Preferred and Specialty Tiers, by Class, 2007 

Percent of Plans Placing 

Drug on Preferred Tier 

When Covered 

Percent of Plans Placing 

Drug on Specialty Tier 

When Covered 

Drug Group 

Average of 

Drug 

Products 

in Group 

Average of 

Chemical 

Entities in 

Group 

Average of 

Drug 

Products 

in Group 

Average of 

Chemical 

Entities in 

Group 

Immunosuppressants 62% 65% 12% 21% 

TNF Inhibitors 15% 14% 80% 80% 

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 35% 40% 34% 25% 

Hormonal Suppressants 26% 34% 61% 53% 

Anti-emetics 59% 72% 16% 16% 

Other Cancer Drugs or Drugs Used 

With Cancer Treatments 41% 43% 41% 43% 

Insulin 85% 90% 0% 1% 

Respiratory 54% 72% 17% 15% 

Antibiotics 50% 57% 23% 22% 

Other 45% 49% 34% 32% 

Average of studied drugs 49% 53% 29% 31% 
28

Table B8. Frequency of Prior Authorization Requirements, 2007 

Of Covered Drug Products, Number Required 

to Have Prior Authorization By... 

# of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

% of 

Drug 

Products 

(n=460)

# of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

% of 

Chemical 

Entities 

(n=276) 

100% of the plans that cover the drug 0 0% 0 0%

90% or more of the plans that cover the drug 12 3% 1 0%

75% or more of the plans that cover the drug 25 5% 12 4%

50% or more of the plans that cover the drug 76 17% 50 18%

25% or more of the plans that cover the drug 144 31% 94 34%

10% or more of the plans that cover the drug 328 71% 204 74%

0 of the plans that cover the drug 3 1% 2 1%

Table B11. Percent of Plans Requiring Prior Authorization, by Class, 2007 

Percent of Plans Requiring Prior 

Authorization When Drug Is Covered 

Drug Group 

Average of Drug 

Products in 

Group 

Average of 

Chemical Entities 

in Group 

Immunosuppressants 43% 51%

TNF Inhibitors 86% 86%

Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease 20% 20%

Hormonal Suppressants 55% 50%

Anti-emetics 23% 26%

Other Cancer 27% 27%

Insulin 6% 2%

Respiratory 37% 36%

Antibiotics 10% 11%

Other 30% 27%

Average of studied drugs 26% 27%
29

Appendix C. Part D Coverage of Selected Drugs That May Be 

Covered By Part B or Part D 

This appendix provides information on Part D plans’ coverage of our studied drugs, by drug product. Tier 

placement and coverage are presentage as the percent of all 3464 plans participating in Part D in 2007. Prior 

authorization is presented as a percent of the plans that cover a given drug. 

Table C1. Coverage of Immunosuppressants (Covered by Part B after a Medicare-covered 

transplant) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Azathioprine Azasan oral solid 43% 20% 36% 31% 

Azathioprine Azathioprine oral solid 98% 0% 0% 38% 

Azathioprine Imuran oral solid 9% 28% 63% 45% 

Daclizumab Zenapax oral liquid 8% 44% 47% 51% 

Sirolimus Rapamune oral solid 60% 39% 0% 67% 

Sirolimus Rapamune sol/susp/powder 56% 42% 0% 70% 

Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (Rabbit) Thymoglobulin sol/susp/powder 9% 38% 53% 47% 

Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (Equine) Atgam injectible 10% 31% 59% 53% 

Cyclosporine Cyclosporine oral solid 94% 0% 5% 71% 

Cyclosporine Cyclosporine sol/susp/powder 91% 7% 0% 72% 

Cyclosporine Gengraf oral solid 81% 7% 11% 64% 

Cyclosporine Gengraf sol/susp/powder 80% 7% 12% 64% 

Cyclosporine Neoral oral solid 42% 23% 33% 58% 

Cyclosporine Neoral sol/susp/powder 43% 23% 33% 58% 

Cyclosporine Sandimmune oral solid 40% 24% 35% 60% 

Cyclosporine Sandimmune sol/susp/powder 42% 23% 34% 60% 

Mycophenolate Mofetil Cellcept oral solid 78% 15% 6% 65% 

Mycophenolate Mofetil Cellcept sol/susp/powder 78% 21% 0% 67% 

Mycophenolate Sodium Myfortic oral solid 26% 50% 24% 69% 

Tacrolimus Prograf oral solid 61% 37% 0% 67% 

Tacrolimus Prograf sol/susp/powder 30% 46% 22% 70% 

Prednisolone Anhydrous Prednisolone oral solid 96% 0% 2% 8% 

Prednisone Deltasone oral solid 53% 4% 41% 7% 

Prednisone Prednisone oral solid 98% 0% 0% 4% 

Prednisone Prednisone sol/susp/powder 82% 2% 16% 5% 

Prednisone Prednisone 

Intensol 

oral liquid 56% 13% 30% 6% 

Prednisone Sterapred oral solid 11% 28% 61% 1% 

Prednisone Sterapred 12 Day oral solid 12% 28% 60% 0% 

Prednisone Sterapred Ds oral solid 10% 28% 62% 0% 

Prednisone Sterapred Ds 12 

Day 

oral solid 13% 28% 59% 0% 
30

Table C2. Coverage of TNF Inhibitors (Covered by Part B when Injected in Doctor’s Office) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Adalimumab Humira other 14% 79% 5% 86% 

Etanercept Enbrel other 17% 80% 1% 86% 

Etanercept Enbrel sol/susp/powder 17% 80% 1% 86% 

Infliximab Remicade sol/susp/powder 8% 86% 4% 87% 

 

Table C3. Coverage of Parathyroid/Metabolic Bone Disease Agents 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Etidronate Disodium Didronel Iv sol/susp/powder 13% 40% 46% 18% 

Calcitonin,Salmon Miacalcin sol/susp/powder 34% 41% 24% 23% 

Doxercalciferol Hectorol sol/susp/powder 42% 37% 19% 10% 

Paricalcitol Zemplar sol/susp/powder 24% 36% 38% 27% 

Pamidronate Disodium Pamidronate 

Disodium 

sol/susp/powder 51% 31% 16% 20% 

Zoledronic Acid Monohydrate Zometa oral liquid 12% 59% 28% 20% 

Table C4. Coverage of Hormonal Suppressants 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Abarelix Plenaxis sol/susp/powder 10% 45% 44% 38% 

Goserelin Acetate Zoladex other 27% 46% 26% 50% 

Leuprolide Acetate Eligard other 11% 61% 27% 61% 

Leuprolide Acetate Leuprolide Acetate other 52% 27% 19% 44% 

Leuprolide Acetate Leuprolide Acetate sol/susp/powder 57% 29% 13% 44% 

Leuprolide Acetate Lupron 2 Week 

Supply 

other 8% 46% 46% 71% 

Leuprolide Acetate Lupron 6-Pack sol/susp/powder 9% 46% 44% 72% 

Leuprolide Acetate Lupron Depot other 17% 72% 10% 57% 

Leuprolide Acetate Lupron Depot-Ped other 13% 64% 23% 49% 

Leuprolide Acetate Viadur other 13% 41% 45% 65% 

Triptorelin Pamoate Trelstar Depot sol/susp/powder 9% 51% 39% 51% 

Triptorelin Pamoate Trelstar La sol/susp/powder 9% 57% 34% 55% 
31

Table C5. Coverage of Anti-Emetics 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Dolasetron Mesylate Anzemet sol/susp/powder 7% 45% 47% 48% 

Ondansetron Zofran sol/susp/powder 61% 29% 10% 47% 

Palonosetron Hydrochloride Aloxi sol/susp/powder 4% 44% 51% 41% 

Aprepitant Emend oral solid 78% 20% 0% 74% 

Aprepitant Emend other 75% 20% 4% 75% 

Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride Chlorpromazine Hcl sol/susp/powder 88% 10% 0% 7% 

Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride Benadryl sol/susp/powder 14% 30% 55% 8% 

Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride Diphenhydramine 

Hcl 

sol/susp/powder 71% 19% 9% 4% 

Metoclopramide Hydrochloride Metoclopramide Hcl sol/susp/powder 73% 12% 14% 10% 

Metoclopramide Hydrochloride Reglan sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 61% 20% 

Prochlorperazine Edisylate Prochlorperazine 

Edisylat 

sol/susp/powder 81% 12% 6% 10% 

Promethazine Hydrochloride Phenergan sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 60% 20% 

Promethazine Hydrochloride Promethazine Hcl sol/susp/powder 77% 18% 3% 9% 

Trimethobenzamide 

Hydrochloride 

Trimethobenzamide 

Hcl 

sol/susp/powder 45% 22% 32% 24% 

Dexamethasone Sodium 

Phosphate 

Dexamethasone 

Sodium Phos 

sol/susp/powder 69% 12% 18% 10% 

Methylprednisolone Medrol oral solid 27% 43% 30% 6% 

Methylprednisolone Medrol Dosepak oral solid 19% 25% 55% 10% 

Methylprednisolone Methylprednisolone oral solid 98% 0% 0% 8% 

Methylprednisolone Acetate Depo-Medrol sol/susp/powder 20% 41% 38% 23% 

Methylprednisolone Acetate Methylprednisolone 

Acetat 

sol/susp/powder 74% 14% 10% 16% 

Methylprednisolone Sodium 

Succinate 

A-Methapred sol/susp/powder 65% 15% 20% 16% 

Methylprednisolone Sodium 

Succinate 

Methylprednisolone 

Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 74% 14% 10% 14% 

Methylprednisolone Sodium 

Succinate 

Solu-Medrol sol/susp/powder 35% 34% 30% 20% 

Methylprednisolone Sodium 

Succinate 

Solu-Medrol Act-OVial sol/susp/powder 29% 30% 41% 21% 
32

Table C6. Coverage of Other Drugs Used to Treat Cancer or Used With Cancer Treatments 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Fulvestrant Faslodex sol/susp/powder 27% 70% 3% 34% 

Alemtuzumab Campath sol/susp/powder 16% 44% 40% 22% 

Benzyl Alcohol And Cremophor El 

And Dimethylacetamide And 

Teniposide 

Vumon sol/susp/powder 18% 40% 41% 14% 

Bevacizumab Avastin sol/susp/powder 16% 55% 28% 44% 

Bleomycin Sulfate Blenoxane sol/susp/powder 10% 42% 48% 24% 

Bleomycin Sulfate Bleomycin Sulfate sol/susp/powder 48% 21% 30% 20% 

Cetuximab Erbitux sol/susp/powder 9% 53% 38% 42% 

Dactinomycin Cosmegen sol/susp/powder 18% 46% 36% 22% 

Daunorubicin Citrate Daunoxome injectible 16% 46% 37% 20% 

Daunorubicin Hydrochloride Cerubidine sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 61% 21% 

Daunorubicin Hydrochloride Daunorubicin Hcl injectible 39% 29% 32% 18% 

Daunorubicin Hydrochloride Daunorubicin Hcl sol/susp/powder 48% 21% 30% 18% 

Docetaxel Taxotere oral liquid 16% 51% 33% 20% 

Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Adriamycin sol/susp/powder 55% 13% 32% 21% 

Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Doxorubicin Hcl sol/susp/powder 56% 13% 30% 21% 

Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin Mylotarg sol/susp/powder 9% 48% 42% 23% 

Mitomycin C Mitomycin sol/susp/powder 37% 34% 29% 20% 

Mitomycin C Mutamycin sol/susp/powder 6% 41% 53% 27% 

Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Mitoxantrone Hcl oral liquid 32% 28% 40% 15% 

Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Novantrone oral liquid 7% 39% 54% 22% 

Oprelvekin Neumega sol/susp/powder 9% 50% 41% 38% 

Paclitaxel Onxol oral liquid 14% 47% 38% 21% 

Paclitaxel Paclitaxel oral liquid 23% 47% 30% 18% 

Paclitaxel Taxol oral liquid 10% 42% 47% 24% 

Rituximab Rituxan oral liquid 9% 49% 42% 66% 

Streptozocin Zanosar sol/susp/powder 10% 47% 43% 25% 

Trastuzumab Herceptin sol/susp/powder 15% 56% 28% 26% 

Vinblastine Sulfate Vinblastine Sulfate sol/susp/powder 45% 21% 34% 25% 

Vincristine Sulfate Vincasar Pfs sol/susp/powder 49% 19% 32% 22% 

Vincristine Sulfate Vincristine Sulfate sol/susp/powder 55% 14% 31% 23% 

Vinorelbine Tartrate Vinorelbine 

Tartrate 

sol/susp/powder 37% 33% 30% 18% 

Carmustine Bicnu W/Diluent 

Absolute 

sol/susp/powder 18% 46% 35% 22% 

Cyclophosphamide Cyclophosphamide oral solid 88% 7% 5% 61% 

Cyclophosphamide Cyclophosphamide sol/susp/powder 70% 13% 17% 49% 

Cyclophosphamide Cytoxan oral solid 19% 33% 47% 65% 

Cyclophosphamide Cytoxan sol/susp/powder 19% 44% 36% 49% 

Dacarbazine Dacarbazine sol/susp/powder 57% 15% 27% 19% 

Dacarbazine Dtic-Dome sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 61% 22% 

Ifosfamide Ifex sol/susp/powder 14% 40% 45% 23% 

Ifosfamide Ifosfamide sol/susp/powder 40% 37% 23% 18% 
33

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Mechlorethamine Hydrochloride Mustargen sol/susp/powder 18% 46% 36% 21% 

Melphalan Alkeran sol/susp/powder 39% 34% 26% 40% 

Thiotepa Thiotepa sol/susp/powder 44% 34% 22% 25% 

Cytarabine Cytarabine sol/susp/powder 55% 18% 27% 26% 

Floxuridine Floxuridine sol/susp/powder 48% 24% 28% 23% 

Floxuridine Fudr sol/susp/powder 23% 25% 52% 34% 

Fluorouracil Adrucil sol/susp/powder 50% 18% 31% 16% 

Fluorouracil Fluorouracil sol/susp/powder 62% 14% 24% 18% 

Pemetrexed Disodium Alimta sol/susp/powder 20% 49% 31% 28% 

Pentostatin Nipent sol/susp/powder 17% 49% 34% 20% 

Aldesleukin Proleukin sol/susp/powder 19% 55% 24% 34% 

Bcg Vaccine Tice Bcg sol/susp/powder 39% 41% 19% 26% 

Bortezomib Velcade sol/susp/powder 17% 54% 28% 25% 

Cladribine Cladribine sol/susp/powder 42% 32% 25% 23% 

Cladribine Leustatin sol/susp/powder 12% 36% 52% 31% 

Fludarabine Phosphate Fludara sol/susp/powder 15% 37% 48% 25% 

Fludarabine Phosphate Fludarabine 

Phosphate 

sol/susp/powder 29% 44% 27% 19% 

Amifostine Ethyol sol/susp/powder 15% 47% 38% 17% 

Dexrazoxane Dexrazoxane sol/susp/powder 46% 22% 31% 14% 

Dexrazoxane Zinecard sol/susp/powder 7% 34% 58% 20% 

Leucovorin Calcium Leucovorin 

Calcium 

sol/susp/powder 71% 19% 8% 24% 

Mesna Mesna sol/susp/powder 57% 32% 10% 22% 

Mesna Mesnex sol/susp/powder 11% 36% 53% 21% 

Rasburicase Elitek sol/susp/powder 17% 40% 43% 19% 

Etoposide Etoposide sol/susp/powder 31% 36% 32% 14% 

Etoposide Toposar sol/susp/powder 36% 34% 29% 14% 

Etoposide Phosphate Etopophos sol/susp/powder 6% 49% 45% 24% 

Irinotecan Hydrochloride Camptosar sol/susp/powder 23% 46% 31% 24% 

Topotecan Hydrochloride Hycamtin sol/susp/powder 18% 57% 24% 26% 

Arsenic Trioxide Trisenox sol/susp/powder 22% 45% 33% 12% 

Asparaginase Elspar sol/susp/powder 22% 46% 32% 20% 

Carboplatin Carboplatin sol/susp/powder 42% 31% 26% 23% 

Carboplatin Paraplatin sol/susp/powder 7% 41% 52% 17% 

Cisplatin Cisplatin sol/susp/powder 55% 18% 27% 25% 

Cisplatin Cisplatin Aq sol/susp/powder 50% 18% 31% 29% 

Cisplatin Platinol Aq sol/susp/powder 5% 32% 63% 21% 

Denileukin Diftitox Ontak sol/susp/powder 19% 49% 31% 26% 

Oxaliplatin Eloxatin sol/susp/powder 19% 52% 28% 27% 

Pegaspargase Oncaspar sol/susp/powder 16% 47% 36% 21% 

Porfimer Sodium Photofrin sol/susp/powder 18% 47% 34% 22% 

Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride Levulan Kerastick sol/susp/powder 41% 33% 26% 8% 

Octreotide Acetate Octreotide Acetate sol/susp/powder 35% 59% 4% 60% 

Octreotide Acetate Sandostatin sol/susp/powder 8% 46% 45% 56% 
34

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Octreotide Acetate Sandostatin Lar 

Depot 

other 15% 62% 21% 58% 

Pamidronate Disodium Aredia sol/susp/powder 2% 40% 57% 21% 

Methotrexate Methotrexate oral solid 96% 0% 2% 18% 

Methotrexate Rheumatrex oral solid 25% 29% 46% 21% 

Methotrexate Sodium Methotrexate oral solid 80% 0% 19% 19% 

Methotrexate Sodium Methotrexate 

Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 82% 13% 4% 27% 

Methotrexate Sodium Trexall oral solid 36% 25% 39% 26% 

Bcg Vaccine And Monosodium 

Glutamate (Sodium Glutamate) 

Theracys sol/susp/powder 28% 42% 30% 22% 

Filgrastim Neupogen sol/susp/powder 12% 85% 1% 74% 

Pegfilgrastim Neulasta sol/susp/powder 10% 72% 16% 60% 

Sargramostim Leukine sol/susp/powder 6% 64% 29% 62% 
35

Table C7. Coverage of Insulin (Covered by Part B when a pump is used) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Insulin Lispro Humalog sol/susp/powder 75% 11% 13% 6% 

Insulin Lispro Humalog Pen sol/susp/powder 65% 16% 17% 12% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) Novolog sol/susp/powder 90% 4% 4% 1% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) Novolog Flexpen sol/susp/powder 65% 4% 31% 4% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) Novolog Penfill sol/susp/powder 87% 6% 5% 11% 

Insulin Human (Regular) Humulin R sol/susp/powder 77% 11% 11% 7% 

Insulin Human (Regular) Novolin R sol/susp/powder 88% 4% 6% 0% 

Insulin Human (Regular) Novolin R Innolet sol/susp/powder 84% 6% 9% 10% 

Insulin Human (Regular) Novolin R U-100 Penfill sol/susp/powder 85% 6% 8% 12% 

Insulin Human (Regular) Relion R sol/susp/powder 42% 23% 33% 1% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Humulin N sol/susp/powder 76% 11% 12% 1% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Humulin N U-100 Pen sol/susp/powder 70% 12% 16% 8% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Novolin N sol/susp/powder 92% 3% 3% 0% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Novolin N Innolet sol/susp/powder 81% 6% 11% 10% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Novolin N U-100 sol/susp/powder 74% 3% 21% 0% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Novolin N U-100 Penfill sol/susp/powder 84% 6% 8% 12% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Relion N sol/susp/powder 42% 23% 33% 0% 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) Relion N Innolet sol/susp/powder 38% 23% 38% 8% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) 

And Insulin Aspart Protamine 

Novolog Mix 70/30 sol/susp/powder 87% 4% 8% 1% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) 

And Insulin Aspart Protamine 

Novolog Mix 70/30 

Penfill 

sol/susp/powder 84% 6% 8% 12% 

Insulin Aspart (Human Analog) 

And Insulin Aspart Protamine 

Novolog Mix 70/30 

Prefill 

sol/susp/powder 84% 4% 10% 12% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Humulin 50/50 sol/susp/powder 78% 10% 11% 1% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Humulin 70/30 sol/susp/powder 77% 11% 10% 1% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Humulin 70/30 Pen sol/susp/powder 68% 16% 15% 8% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Novolin 70/30 sol/susp/powder 93% 4% 2% 5% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Novolin 70/30 Innolet sol/susp/powder 83% 6% 9% 12% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Novolin 70/30 Penfill sol/susp/powder 85% 6% 7% 12% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Relion 70/30 sol/susp/powder 42% 24% 33% 0% 

Insulin Human (Regular) And 

Insulin Human, Isophane (Nph) 

Relion 70/30 Innolet sol/susp/powder 38% 23% 38% 8% 

Insulin Lispro And Insulin Lispro 

Protamine (Npl) 

Humalog Mix 75/25 sol/susp/powder 75% 11% 12% 1% 

Insulin Lispro And Insulin Lispro 

Protamine (Npl) 

Humalog Mix 75/25 Pen sol/susp/powder 70% 13% 16% 10% 

Glucagon Rdna (Human 

Recombinant) 

Glucagon Emergency 

Kit 

other 89% 6% 3% 0% 
36

Table C8. Coverage of Respiratory Tract Agents (Covered by Part B when a nebulizer is used) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Albuterol sulfate Accuneb inhaled 40% 18% 41% 49% 

Albuterol sulfate Albuterol sulfate inhaled 79% 0% 21% 54% 

Albuterol sulfate Proventil inhaled 8% 23% 69% 45% 

Albuterol sulfate Ventolin inhaled 5% 22% 72% 43% 

Levalbuterol hydrochloride Xopenex inhaled 19% 30% 51% 40% 

Levalbuterol hydrochloride Xopenex concentrate inhaled 19% 30% 51% 40% 

Metaproterenol sulfate Metaproterenol sulfate inhaled 63% 0% 37% 50% 

Hydroxyzine hydrochloride Hydroxyzine hcl sol/susp/powder 76% 19% 4% 10% 

Aminophylline Aminophylline sol/susp/powder 67% 12% 20% 10% 

Epinephrine hydrochloride Adrenalin sol/susp/powder 27% 20% 53% 16% 

Epinephrine hydrochloride Epinephrine hcl sol/susp/powder 67% 12% 21% 6% 

Terbutaline sulfate Brethine sol/susp/powder 12% 33% 54% 17% 

Terbutaline sulfate Terbutaline sulfate sol/susp/powder 72% 13% 14% 11% 

Dornase alfa Pulmozyme sol/susp/powder 11% 58% 30% 61% 

Acetylcysteine Acetylcysteine sol/susp/powder 80% 4% 16% 45% 

Acetylcysteine Mucomyst-10 sol/susp/powder 11% 28% 61% 38% 

Proteinase inhibitor (human) Aralast sol/susp/powder 8% 62% 29% 43% 

Proteinase inhibitor (human) Prolastin sol/susp/powder 22% 61% 16% 55% 

Proteinase inhibitor (human) Zemaira sol/susp/powder 7% 41% 51% 53% 

Albuterol sulfate and 

ipratropium bromide 

Duoneb sol/susp/powder 38% 24% 38% 47% 

Cromolyn Sodium Cromolyn Sodium inhaled 81% 0% 18% 42% 

Cromolyn Sodium Intal inhaled 14% 21% 65% 27% 
37

Table C9. Coverage of Antibiotics (Covered by Part B when Injected in Doctor’s Office) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Gentamicin Sulfate Gentamicin Sulfate sol/susp/powder 74% 10% 14% 5% 

Kanamycin Sulfate Kanamycin Sulfate sol/susp/powder 41% 14% 44% 8% 

Streptomycin Sulfate Streptomycin Sulfate sol/susp/powder 31% 26% 43% 8% 

Tobramycin Tobi inhaled 10% 51% 38% 67% 

Tobramycin Sulfate Tobramycin Sulfate sol/susp/powder 71% 10% 18% 6% 

Tobramycin Sulfate Tobramycin Sulfate 

Add-Va 

sol/susp/powder 39% 24% 36% 7% 

Tobramycin Sulfate Tobramycin Sulfate 

Flipto 

sol/susp/powder 56% 14% 28% 6% 

Gentamicin Sulfate And Sodium 

Chloride 

Gentamicin 

Sulfate/Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 52% 17% 30% 7% 

Sodium Chloride And 

Tobramycin Sulfate 

Tobramycin 

Sulfate/Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 32% 25% 42% 8% 

Cefazolin Sodium Cefazolin Sodium sol/susp/powder 82% 15% 1% 5% 

Cefoxitin Sodium Cefoxitin sol/susp/powder 38% 22% 40% 9% 

Cefoxitin Sodium Cefoxitin Sodium sol/susp/powder 59% 21% 19% 7% 

Cefuroxime Sodium Cefuroxime Sodium sol/susp/powder 34% 19% 46% 8% 

Cefuroxime Sodium Zinacef sol/susp/powder 28% 30% 42% 8% 

Cefotaxime Sodium Cefotaxime Sodium sol/susp/powder 54% 21% 24% 8% 

Cefotaxime Sodium Claforan sol/susp/powder 10% 41% 49% 9% 

Ceftazidime Ceftazidime sol/susp/powder 35% 19% 45% 11% 

Ceftazidime Fortaz sol/susp/powder 32% 37% 30% 7% 

Ceftazidime Fortaz Infusion Pack sol/susp/powder 14% 34% 52% 10% 

Ceftazidime Tazicef sol/susp/powder 45% 20% 34% 8% 

Ceftizoxime Sodium Cefizox sol/susp/powder 12% 41% 46% 11% 

Ceftriaxone Sodium Ceftriaxone Sodium sol/susp/powder 69% 20% 9% 5% 

Ceftriaxone Sodium Rocephin sol/susp/powder 20% 37% 43% 9% 

Cefepime Hydrochloride Maxipime sol/susp/powder 66% 32% 0% 7% 

Cefazolin Sodium And Dextrose 

(Anhydrous) 

Cefazolin Sodium sol/susp/powder 57% 14% 27% 8% 

Cefazolin Sodium And Dextrose 

Monohydrate 

Cefazolin SodiumDextrose sol/susp/powder 49% 17% 33% 7% 

Cefotaxime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Claforan/D5w sol/susp/powder 10% 40% 49% 10% 

Cefoxitin Sodium And Dextrose 

(Anhydrous) 

Mefoxin In Dextrose 

2.2% 

sol/susp/powder 21% 29% 50% 10% 

Cefoxitin Sodium And Dextrose 

(Anhydrous) 

Mefoxin In Dextrose 

3.9% 

sol/susp/powder 10% 40% 50% 9% 

Ceftazidime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Fortaz sol/susp/powder 20% 40% 40% 8% 

Ceftazidime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Tazicef sol/susp/powder 27% 23% 48% 9% 

Ceftizoxime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Cefizox In Dextrose 5% sol/susp/powder 8% 39% 52% 9% 

Ceftriaxone Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Ceftriaxone In IsoOsmoti sol/susp/powder 46% 19% 34% 7% 

Ceftriaxone Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Rocephin In IsoOsmotic D sol/susp/powder 7% 41% 51% 10% 
38

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Ceftriaxone Sodium And 

Dextrose Monohydrate 

Ceftriaxone/Dextrose sol/susp/powder 36% 20% 43% 7% 

Cefuroxime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Zinacef sol/susp/powder 10% 40% 50% 10% 

Cefuroxime Sodium And 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) 

Zinacef/D5w sol/susp/powder 10% 40% 50% 10% 

Cefuroxime Sodium And 

Dextrose Monohydrate 

Cefuroxime/Dextrose sol/susp/powder 36% 19% 44% 8% 

Cefuroxime Sodium And Water, 

Sterile 

Zinacef sol/susp/powder 10% 40% 49% 9% 

Ampicillin Sodium Ampicillin Sodium sol/susp/powder 76% 14% 8% 7% 

Ampicillin Sodium And 

Sulbactam Sodium 

Ampicillin-Sulbactam sol/susp/powder 62% 17% 21% 8% 

Ampicillin Sodium And 

Sulbactam Sodium 

Unasyn sol/susp/powder 11% 33% 55% 11% 

Ampicillin Sodium And 

Sulbactam Sodium 

Unasyn Add-Vantage sol/susp/powder 12% 39% 48% 9% 

Ampicillin Sodium And 

Sulbactam Sodium 

Unasyn Bulk Pack sol/susp/powder 11% 34% 55% 10% 

Ampicillin Sodium And 

Sulbactam Sodium 

Unasyn Piggyback Unit sol/susp/powder 12% 41% 47% 9% 

Piperacillin Sodium And 

Tazobactam Sodium 

Zosyn sol/susp/powder 32% 35% 31% 7% 

Oxacillin Sodium Oxacillin Sodium sol/susp/powder 41% 28% 30% 9% 

Penicillin G Benzathine Bicillin L-A sol/susp/powder 28% 39% 32% 7% 

Penicillin G Potassium Penicillin G Potassium sol/susp/powder 73% 13% 14% 6% 

Penicillin G Potassium Pfizerpen-G sol/susp/powder 41% 19% 40% 8% 

Penicillin G Procaine Penicillin G Procaine sol/susp/powder 42% 25% 32% 7% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Oxacillin Sodium 

Bactocill In Dextrose sol/susp/powder 19% 29% 51% 10% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Penicillin G Potassium 

Penicillin G Potassium 

In 

sol/susp/powder 45% 16% 39% 8% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Piperacillin Sodium And 

Tazobactam Sodium 

Zosyn sol/susp/powder 37% 30% 31% 9% 

Penicillin G Benzathine And 

Penicillin G Procaine 

Bicillin C-R sol/susp/powder 26% 37% 36% 8% 

Ertapenem Sodium Invanz sol/susp/powder 31% 44% 24% 7% 

Cilastatin Sodium And Imipenem Primaxin I.M. sol/susp/powder 21% 52% 26% 7% 

Cilastatin Sodium And Imipenem Primaxin Iv sol/susp/powder 23% 57% 19% 8% 

Cilastatin Sodium And Imipenem Primaxin Iv AddVantage sol/susp/powder 18% 52% 29% 7% 

Meropenem Merrem sol/susp/powder 18% 46% 36% 8% 

Erythromycin Lactobionate Erythrocin sol/susp/powder 42% 22% 35% 7% 

Erythromycin Lactobionate Erythrocin Lactobionate sol/susp/powder 45% 18% 36% 7% 

Erythromycin Lactobionate Erythromycin 

Lactobionate 

sol/susp/powder 48% 20% 31% 6% 

Azithromycin Azithromycin sol/susp/powder 56% 7% 37% 1% 

Azithromycin Dihydrate Azithromycin sol/susp/powder 72% 7% 20% 6% 

Azithromycin Dihydrate Zithromax sol/susp/powder 13% 38% 49% 12% 

Ciprofloxacin Cipro I.V. sol/susp/powder 34% 38% 27% 17% 
39

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Ciprofloxacin Ciprofloxacin sol/susp/powder 65% 7% 26% 17% 

Levofloxacin Hemihydrate Levaquin sol/susp/powder 37% 51% 10% 6% 

Ciprofloxacin And Dextrose 

(Anhydrous) 

Cipro I.V.-In D5w sol/susp/powder 35% 36% 29% 17% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Levofloxacin Hemihydrate 

Levaquin sol/susp/powder 24% 43% 31% 7% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Levofloxacin Hemihydrate 

Levaquin Premix sol/susp/powder 25% 44% 30% 13% 

Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride And 

Sodium Chloride 

Avelox sol/susp/powder 46% 32% 21% 17% 

Vancomycin Hydrochloride Vancomycin Hcl sol/susp/powder 85% 13% 0% 8% 

Lincomycin Hydrochloride Lincocin sol/susp/powder 9% 33% 58% 11% 

Linezolid Zyvox sol/susp/powder 33% 66% 0% 48% 

Chloramphenicol Sodium 

Succinate 

Chloramphenicol 

Sodium Su 

sol/susp/powder 42% 13% 44% 10% 

Chloramphenicol Sodium 

Succinate 

Chloromycetin sol/susp/powder 11% 33% 56% 10% 

Daptomycin Cubicin sol/susp/powder 27% 66% 6% 9% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Vancomycin Hydrochloride 

Vancocin Hcl sol/susp/powder 21% 39% 38% 18% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Vancomycin Hydrochloride 

Vancocin Hcl IsoOsmotic sol/susp/powder 16% 40% 43% 11% 

Colistimethate Sodium Colistimethate Sodium sol/susp/powder 48% 41% 10% 18% 

Colistimethate Sodium Coly-Mycin-M sol/susp/powder 5% 35% 59% 12% 

Dalfopristin And Quinupristin Synercid sol/susp/powder 11% 39% 49% 10% 

Triamcinolone Acetonide Kenalog-10 sol/susp/powder 31% 35% 33% 12% 

Triamcinolone Acetonide Kenalog-10 Mdv sol/susp/powder 22% 26% 52% 16% 

Triamcinolone Acetonide Kenalog-40 sol/susp/powder 31% 33% 36% 12% 
40

Table C10. Coverage of Other Drugs (Covered by Part B when Injected in Doctor’s Office) 

NDC codes with Part B claims also on the 2007 Reference File 

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Analgesics 

Ketorolac Tromethamine Ketorolac 

Tromethamine 

sol/susp/powder 51% 24% 25% 28% 

Methadone Hydrochloride Methadone Hcl sol/susp/powder 56% 17% 26% 8% 

Morphine Sulfate Astramorph sol/susp/powder 38% 13% 48% 19% 

Morphine Sulfate Duramorph sol/susp/powder 52% 14% 33% 15% 

Morphine Sulfate Infumorph 200 sol/susp/powder 32% 26% 41% 17% 

Morphine Sulfate Morphine Sulfate sol/susp/powder 88% 8% 3% 13% 

Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Buprenex sol/susp/powder 9% 38% 52% 18% 

Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Buprenorphine Hcl sol/susp/powder 35% 33% 30% 23% 

Butorphanol Tartrate Butorphanol 

Tartrate 

sol/susp/powder 75% 6% 17% 18% 

Fentanyl Citrate Fentanyl Citrate sol/susp/powder 61% 9% 29% 14% 

Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Dilaudid sol/susp/powder 16% 32% 51% 13% 

Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Hydromorphone 

Hcl 

sol/susp/powder 72% 16% 11% 13% 

Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Hydromorphone 

Hcl Dosette 

sol/susp/powder 63% 20% 16% 14% 

Meperidine Hydrochloride Demerol sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 60% 30% 

Meperidine Hydrochloride Meperidine Hcl sol/susp/powder 61% 8% 31% 24% 

Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Nubain sol/susp/powder 5% 32% 62% 21% 

Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Numorphan sol/susp/powder 9% 36% 54% 9% 

Pentazocine Lactate Talwin sol/susp/powder 9% 32% 58% 19% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Morphine Sulfate 

Morphine Sulfate In 

Dextr 

sol/susp/powder 25% 21% 53% 17% 

Anticonvulsants 

Fosphenytoin Sodium Cerebyx sol/susp/powder 11% 39% 49% 9% 

Phenytoin Sodium Phenytoin Sodium sol/susp/powder 76% 13% 10% 2% 

Toxicologic Agents 

Naloxone Hydrochloride Naloxone Hcl sol/susp/powder 66% 12% 20% 14% 

Naloxone Hydrochloride Narcan sol/susp/powder 17% 32% 51% 16% 

Antifungals 

Itraconazole Sporanox other 15% 46% 38% 36% 

Caspofungin Acetate Cancidas sol/susp/powder 8% 36% 56% 17% 

Amphotericin B Abelcet sol/susp/powder 11% 48% 40% 29% 

Amphotericin B Ambisome sol/susp/powder 12% 38% 49% 21% 

Amphotericin B Amphocin sol/susp/powder 34% 25% 39% 15% 

Amphotericin B Amphotec sol/susp/powder 9% 42% 48% 26% 

Amphotericin B Amphotericin B sol/susp/powder 68% 15% 16% 23% 

Amphotericin B Fungizone sol/susp/powder 25% 20% 54% 22% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And 

Fluconazole 

Diflucan In IsoOsmotic D sol/susp/powder 10% 33% 56% 26% 

Fluconazole And Sodium Chloride Diflucan In Nacl sol/susp/powder 10% 33% 56% 26% 

Fluconazole And Sodium Chloride Fluconazole In Nacl sol/susp/powder 66% 19% 14% 24% 

Voriconazole Vfend Iv sol/susp/powder 16% 56% 27% 45% 
41

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Antigout 

Colchicine Colchicine sol/susp/powder 57% 17% 25% 7% 

Antimigraine 

Dihydroergotamine Mesylate D.H.E. 45 sol/susp/powder 5% 34% 61% 12% 

Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Dihydroergotamine 

Mesylat 

sol/susp/powder 68% 26% 5% 12% 

Sumatriptan Succinate Imitrex sol/susp/powder 84% 12% 3% 9% 

Sumatriptan Succinate Imitrex Statdose other 66% 13% 20% 15% 

Sumatriptan Succinate Imitrex Statdose 

Pen 

other 81% 14% 3% 12% 

Sumatriptan Succinate Imitrex Statdose 

Refill 

other 78% 14% 6% 13% 

Propranolol Hydrochloride Inderal sol/susp/powder 11% 33% 56% 17% 

Propranolol Hydrochloride Propranolol Hcl sol/susp/powder 71% 12% 15% 11% 

Antimyasthenic 

Neostigmine Methylsulfate Neostigmine 

Methylsulfate 

sol/susp/powder 58% 14% 27% 10% 

Antiparasitics 

Pentamidine Isethionate Nebupent sol/susp/powder 43% 15% 42% 51% 

Trimetrexate Glucuronate Neutrexin sol/susp/powder 8% 35% 57% 17% 

Antiparkinson 

Benztropine Mesylate Cogentin sol/susp/powder 36% 29% 34% 12% 

Antipsychotics 

Risperidone Risperdal Consta sol/susp/powder 38% 60% 0% 11% 

Ziprasidone Mesylate Geodon sol/susp/powder 44% 53% 1% 21% 

Fluphenazine Decanoate Fluphenazine 

Decanoate 

sol/susp/powder 85% 13% 0% 2% 

Haloperidol Lactate Haldol sol/susp/powder 6% 33% 60% 2% 

Haloperidol Lactate Haloperidol Lactate sol/susp/powder 84% 13% 1% 2% 

Haloperidol Decanoate Haldol Decanoate 

50 

sol/susp/powder 10% 34% 56% 2% 

Haloperidol Decanoate Haldol Decanoate100 sol/susp/powder 11% 34% 54% 2% 

Haloperidol Decanoate Haldol Decanoate50 sol/susp/powder 11% 34% 55% 2% 

Haloperidol Decanoate Haloperidol 

Decanoate 

sol/susp/powder 84% 14% 0% 2% 

Antivirals 

Cidofovir Dihydrate Vistide sol/susp/powder 12% 40% 47% 19% 

Foscarnet Sodium Foscarnet Sodium sol/susp/powder 41% 24% 35% 30% 

Foscarnet Sodium Foscavir sol/susp/powder 11% 37% 51% 31% 

Ganciclovir Sodium Cytovene sol/susp/powder 21% 48% 30% 33% 

Zidovudine Retrovir Iv Infusion sol/susp/powder 54% 44% 0% 0% 

Blood products/modifiers 

Fondaparinux Sodium Arixtra sol/susp/powder 31% 67% 0% 22% 

Dalteparin Sodium Fragmin injectible 27% 42% 30% 20% 

Enoxaparin Sodium Lovenox sol/susp/powder 41% 56% 1% 14% 

Tinzaparin Sodium Innohep sol/susp/powder 13% 48% 38% 18% 
42

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Heparin Sodium (Porcine) Heparin Sodium sol/susp/powder 85% 13% 0% 8% 

Heparin Sodium (Porcine) Heparin Sodium 

Dcu 

sol/susp/powder 71% 15% 13% 8% 

Dextrose (Anhydrous) And Heparin 

Sodium (Porcine) 

Heparin 

Sodium/D5w 

sol/susp/powder 60% 13% 26% 10% 

Heparin Sodium (Porcine) And 

Sodium Chloride 

Heparin 

Sodium/Nacl 0.45% 

sol/susp/powder 48% 14% 37% 11% 

Heparin Sodium (Porcine) And 

Sodium Chloride 

Heparin 

Sodium/Nacl 0.9% 

sol/susp/powder 61% 13% 25% 8% 

Heparin Sodium (Porcine) And 

Sodium Chloride 

Heparin 

Sodium/Sodium 

Chl 

sol/susp/powder 53% 14% 33% 10% 

Cardiovascular Agents 

Clonidine Hydrochloride Duraclon sol/susp/powder 7% 37% 56% 9% 

Methyldopate Hydrochloride Methyldopate Hcl sol/susp/powder 39% 13% 47% 14% 

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Neo-Synephrine sol/susp/powder 5% 34% 61% 18% 

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Phenylephrine Hcl sol/susp/powder 39% 11% 49% 14% 

Procainamide Hydrochloride Procainamide Hcl sol/susp/powder 64% 9% 25% 12% 

Digoxin Digoxin sol/susp/powder 69% 13% 17% 10% 

Digoxin Lanoxin sol/susp/powder 31% 26% 42% 16% 

Acetazolamide Sodium Acetazolamide 

Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 34% 21% 45% 15% 

Torsemide Demadex sol/susp/powder 16% 41% 42% 16% 

Chlorothiazide Sodium Diuril Iv sol/susp/powder 6% 41% 53% 17% 

Hydralazine Hydrochloride Hydralazine Hcl sol/susp/powder 75% 13% 11% 10% 

Papaverine Hydrochloride Papaverine Hcl sol/susp/powder 52% 13% 34% 24% 

Enzyme Replacements/Modifiers 

Agalsidase Beta Fabrazyme sol/susp/powder 9% 89% 0% 36% 

Alglucerase Ceredase sol/susp/powder 6% 47% 46% 24% 

Imiglucerase Cerezyme sol/susp/powder 14% 84% 0% 44% 

Gastrointestinal 

Atropine Sulfate Atropine Sulfate sol/susp/powder 53% 17% 30% 22% 

Dicyclomine Hydrochloride Bentyl sol/susp/powder 10% 31% 58% 10% 

Dicyclomine Hydrochloride Dicyclomine Hcl sol/susp/powder 57% 23% 19% 11% 

Hyoscyamine Sulfate Levsin sol/susp/powder 20% 37% 42% 15% 

Ranitidine Hydrochloride Ranitidine Hcl sol/susp/powder 67% 14% 17% 7% 

Ranitidine Hydrochloride Zantac sol/susp/powder 10% 29% 61% 10% 

Ranitidine Hydrochloride And 

Sodium Chloride 

Zantac sol/susp/powder 14% 36% 49% 8% 

Glucocorticoids 

Betamethasone Celestone sol/susp/powder 14% 38% 47% 1% 

Budesonide Pulmicort sol/susp/powder 33% 37% 30% 57% 

Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Solu-Cortef sol/susp/powder 31% 34% 35% 12% 

Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Aristospan IntraArticula sol/susp/powder 7% 49% 44% 14% 

Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Aristospan 

Intralesional 

sol/susp/powder 7% 49% 44% 14% 
43

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Injectible Immune Globulin 

Globulin, Immune Baygam Injectible 21% 29% 50% 95% 

Globulin, Immune Gamastan S/D Injectible 19% 33% 47% 93% 

Globulin, Immune Immune Globulin injectible 29% 34% 37% 82% 

Pituitary Stimulant/Replacement 

Agents 

 

Gonadotropin, Chorionic Chorionic 

Gonadotropin 

sol/susp/powder 19% 4% 76% 28% 

Gonadotropin, Chorionic Novarel sol/susp/powder 12% 5% 82% 39% 

Gonadotropin, Chorionic Pregnyl W/Diluent 

Benzyl 

sol/susp/powder 12% 5% 83% 39% 

Desmopressin Acetate Ddavp sol/susp/powder 7% 33% 59% 19% 

Desmopressin Acetate Desmopressin 

Acetate 

sol/susp/powder 79% 11% 9% 12% 

Oxytocin Oxytocin sol/susp/powder 44% 14% 41% 12% 

Oxytocin Pitocin sol/susp/powder 17% 22% 60% 19% 

Somatropin Genotropin sol/susp/powder 7% 64% 28% 93% 

Somatropin Genotropin 

Miniquick 

sol/susp/powder 6% 62% 31% 93% 

Somatropin Humatrope Combo 

Pack 

sol/susp/powder 4% 64% 31% 93% 

Somatropin Norditropin 

Cartridge 

sol/susp/powder 11% 76% 12% 92% 

Somatropin Norditropin 

Nordiflex 

sol/susp/powder 11% 77% 11% 90% 

Somatropin Nutropin sol/susp/powder 6% 68% 25% 97% 

Somatropin Nutropin Aq sol/susp/powder 5% 65% 29% 93% 

Somatropin Nutropin Aq Pen sol/susp/powder 3% 63% 33% 95% 

Somatropin Zorbtive sol/susp/powder 5% 53% 41% 92% 

Somatropin (Serono) Saizen sol/susp/powder 10% 65% 24% 91% 

Somatropin (Serono) Serostim sol/susp/powder 10% 49% 40% 89% 

Sex Hormones 

Nandrolone Decanoate Nandrolone 

Decanoate 

topical 38% 12% 49% 42% 

Testosterone Cypionate Depo-Testosterone topical 40% 38% 21% 47% 

Testosterone Cypionate Testosterone 

Cypionate 

topical 79% 14% 5% 39% 

Testosterone Enanthate Testosterone 

Enanthate 

topical 71% 15% 12% 32% 

Estradiol Cypionate Depo-Estradiol topical 20% 32% 47% 10% 

Estradiol Valerate Delestrogen topical 9% 46% 44% 9% 

Estrogens, Conjugated Premarin sol/susp/powder 48% 25% 26% 5% 

Estrone Estro-5 sol/susp/powder 18% 26% 55% 17% 

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Depo-Provera sol/susp/powder 27% 30% 42% 10% 

PituitarySuppressants 

Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Type A Botox sol/susp/powder 4% 36% 60% 80% 

Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Type B Myobloc sol/susp/powder 4% 47% 48% 62% 
44

Generic name Trade name Form 

Preferred 

tier 

Nonpreferred 

tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Immune Stimulants 

Alefacept Amevive sol/susp/powder 5% 49% 46% 74% 

Interferon Alfa-2a Roferon-A other 14% 75% 10% 78% 

Interferon Alfa-2b Intron-A other 13% 85% 1% 77% 

Interferon Alfa-2b Intron-A sol/susp/powder 13% 81% 4% 80% 

Interferon Alfa-2b Intron-A W/Diluent sol/susp/powder 13% 81% 4% 79% 

Interferon Alfacon-1 Infergen injectible 5% 69% 24% 82% 

Interferon Beta-1a Avonex other 10% 86% 2% 66% 

Interferon Beta-1b Betaseron sol/susp/powder 11% 87% 0% 64% 

Interferon Gamma-1b Actimmune sol/susp/powder 11% 86% 2% 73% 

Glatiramer Acetate Copaxone other 17% 81% 0% 63% 

Omalizumab Xolair sol/susp/powder 3% 67% 29% 87% 

Azathioprine Sodium Azathioprine 

Sodium 

sol/susp/powder 43% 20% 36% 51% 

Gold Sodium Thiomalate Gold Sodium 

Thiomalate 

sol/susp/powder 50% 10% 40% 13% 

Gold Sodium Thiomalate Myochrysine sol/susp/powder 23% 18% 58% 22% 

Muromonab Cd3 Orthoclone Okt3 injectible 10% 34% 56% 58% 

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants 

Methocarbamol Robaxin sol/susp/powder 17% 42% 41% 15% 

Orphenadrine Citrate Norflex sol/susp/powder 6% 38% 55% 18% 

Orphenadrine Citrate Orphenadrine 

Citrate 

sol/susp/powder 39% 28% 33% 24% 
45

Appendix D. Coverage of IV Immune Globulin 

Because of changes in HCPCS codes for IV immune globulin, it was not included in our overall analysis. In 

this appendix we provide data on coverage of IV immune globulin products included in the CMS Formulary 

Reference File. 

In general, Part D coverage of IV immune globulin is much more restrictive than coverage of the other drugs 

in this study. These products are covered, on average, by about half of Part D plans, lower than the 69% 

average coverage for the drugs in our study. Coverage varies slightly by brand and by dosage, ranging from 

47% of plans to 57% of plans. 

Plans that do cover IV immune globulin are very likely to place the drug on a specialty tier, and rarely are ona 

preferred tier. Other drugs in this study are four times more likely to be on a preferred tier. 

Almost all plans require prior authorization when they do cover an IV immune globulin product. By contrast, 

other drugs in this study have a prior authorization requirement only about a quarter of the time. 

Trade Name Unit 

Preferre

d tier 

Nonpreferre

d brand 

tier 

Specialty 

Tier 

Not 

covered 

Of plans that 

cover, % 

requiring 

prior 

authorization 

Carimune 12 GM 8% 1% 40% 50% 97% 

Carimune Nanofiltered 1 GM 8% 1% 45% 46% 97% 

Carimune Nanofiltered 3 GM 9% 2% 45% 44% 97% 

Carimune Nanofiltered 6 GM 9% 2% 45% 44% 96% 

Carimune Nanofiltered 12 GM 8% 2% 40% 49% 95% 

Gammagard Liquid 10 % 8% 1% 44% 46% 96% 

Gammagard Liquid 2.5 GM/25ML 7% 1% 44% 48% 97% 

Gammagard Liquid 5 GM/50ML 7% 1% 44% 48% 97% 

Gammagard Liquid 10 

GM/100ML 

7% 1% 44% 48% 97% 

Gammagard Liquid 20 

GM/200ML 

10% 1% 44% 45% 92% 

Gammagard S/D 0.5 GM 6% 2% 45% 47% 96% 

Gammagard S/D 2.5 GM 8% 1% 45% 46% 97% 

Gammagard S/D 5 GM 9% 1% 45% 45% 95% 

Gammagard S/D 10 GM 10% 1% 45% 44% 93% 

Gammar-P I.V. 5 GM 14% 1% 37% 47% 97% 

Gammar-P I.V. 10 GM 15% 1% 38% 46% 97% 

Gamunex 10 % 5% 2% 40% 51% 95% 

Iveegam EN 5 GM 18% 1% 38% 43% 92% 

Octagam 1 GM/20ML 10% 1% 36% 51% 96% 

Octagam 2.5 GM/50ML 10% 1% 36% 53% 97% 

Octagam 5 GM/100ML 7% 1% 39% 52% 98% 

Octagam 10 

GM/200ML 

7% 1% 40% 51% 97% 

Panglobulin NF 6 GM 14% 1% 33% 51% 97% 

Panglobulin NF 12 GM 14% 1% 33% 51% 97% 

Polygam S/D 5 GM 9% 5% 37% 47% 94% 

Polygam S/D 10 GM 10% 5% 37% 47% 93% 

Average, IV Immune Globulin 9% 1% 41% 48% 96% 

Average, 460 Studied Drug Products 36% 12% 19% 31% 26% 
46

Appendix E. Cost Data for Selected Drugs That May Be Covered 

By Part B or Part D 

This appendix provides detail for each of the 50 drugs for which we collected price data for the measures we 

include in the report: the difference between Part D and Part B costs, absolute and relative beneficiary costs, 

and government costs. 

Part B costs are based on ASP+6% in January 2007. Part D negotiated prices are the median negotiated price 

for the 47 PDPs that offer plans nationally or almost nationally. Beneficiary costs in Part D are calculated 

based on a plan with a $265 deductible and cost sharing in the initial coverage period equal to the median cost 

sharing in the 47 plans. 
47

Table E1. Total Annual Costs, Sorted by the Ratio of Part D Price to Part B Price 

annual costs 

HCPCS label Brand Name form 

Part B 

(ASP+6%) 

Part D 

(negotiated price) 

Ratio of 

D to B 

Trimethobenzamide (generic) inj $387 $53 0.14 

Dexamethasone (generic) oral $296 $77 0.26 

Prednisone (generic) oral $69 $33 0.47 

Sirolimus Rapamune oral $5,201 $2,808 0.54 

Daclizumab Zenapax inf $4,719 $3,934 0.83 

Abarelix Plenaxis inj $8,234 $8,278 1.01 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,796 1.02 

Aprepitant+Dexamethasone+Ondansetron oral $8,952 $9,171 1.02 

Etanercept Enbrel inj $15,589 $16,068 1.03 

Tacrolimus Prograf inj $57,277 $59,249 1.03 

Aprepitant Emend oral $6,888 $7,191 1.04 

Gentamicin Garamycin $386 $403 1.05 

Adalimumab Humira inj $15,277 $16,068 1.05 

Zoledronic acid Zometa inf $9,840 $10,477 1.06 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,809 $1,935 1.07 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,902 1.08 

Tacrolimus Prograf oral $7,179 $7,843 1.09 

Infliximab Remicade inf $12,895 $14,279 1.11 

Cyclosporine (generic) inf $22,286 $24,965 1.12 

Lymphocyte immune globulin Atgam inj $30,129 $33,904 1.13 

Prednisolone Oprapred oral $64 $72 1.13 

Mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept oral $7,335 $8,340 1.14 

Calcitonin salmon Miacalcin inj $3,916 $4,490 1.15 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,673 $2,025 1.21 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $5,183 $6,361 1.23 

Antithymocyte globulin rabbit Thymoglobulin inj $10,594 $13,262 1.25 

Granisetron Kytril oral $2,120 $2,696 1.27 

Dolasetron mesylate Anzemet oral $1,169 $1,579 1.35 

Cyclosporine (generic) oral $9,561 $13,985 1.46 

Magnesium sulfate (generic) $106 $174 1.65 

Methotrexate sodium (generic) inj $30 $51 1.73 

Promethazine Phenergan inj $44 $84 1.90 

Goserelin acetate Zoladex implant $2,405 $4,817 2.00 

Azathioprine (generic) oral $444 $916 2.06 

Palonosetron Aloxi inj $419 $1,000 2.39 

Metoclopramide Reglan inj $476 $1,247 2.62 

Cromolyn sodium Nasalcrom neb $149 $401 2.69 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $2,765 $7,648 2.77 

Leuprolide acetate Viadur implant $1,717 $4,833 2.81 

Pamidronate disodium (generic) inf $1,222 $3,450 2.82 

Triptorelin pamoate Trelstar Depot inj $2,138 $6,184 2.89 

Prochlorperazine edisylate (generic) inj $196 $604 3.08 

Leuprolide acetate (generic) inj $2,428 $7,792 3.21 

Methylprednisolone Medrol oral $26 $90 3.49 

Fluphenazine decanoate Prolixin inj $18 $69 3.85 

Metaproterenol (generic) neb $257 $1,140 4.43 

Methotrexate (generic) oral $31 $234 7.45 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $2 $39 18.17 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $3 $55 19.91 

Diphenhydramine (generic) oral $1 $24 30.00 
48

Table E2. Beneficiary Cost Sharing as a Share of Total Part D Costs 

If Drug is Only Drug Beneficiary Uses in Part D 

annual costs 

HCPCS label Brand Name form Part D Total 

Part D 

Beneficiary 

Cost 

% Paid by 

Beneficiary 

Tacrolimus Prograf inj $59,249 $6,566 11% 

Lymphocyte immune globulin Atgam inj $33,904 $5,670 17% 

Cyclosporine (generic) inf $24,965 $4,800 19% 

Metoclopramide Reglan inj $1,247 $325 26% 

Adalimumab Humira inj $16,068 $4,391 27% 

Etanercept Enbrel inj $16,068 $4,391 27% 

Metaproterenol (generic) neb $1,140 $315 28% 

Infliximab Remicade inf $14,279 $4,295 30% 

Cyclosporine (generic) oral $13,985 $4,251 30% 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,902 $595 31% 

Antithymocyte globulin rabbit Thymoglobulin inj $13,262 $4,380 33% 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,796 $595 33% 

Azathioprine (generic) oral $916 $310 34% 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $2,025 $730 36% 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,935 $709 37% 

Zoledronic acid Zometa inf $10,477 $4,117 39% 

Granisetron Kytril oral $2,696 $1,122 42% 

Aprepitant+Dexamethasone 

+Ondansetron oral $9,171 $4,024 44% 

Sirolimus Rapamune oral $2,808 $1,235 44% 

Dolasetron mesylate Anzemet oral $1,579 $714 45% 

Mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept oral $8,340 $3,975 48% 

Abarelix Plenaxis inj $8,278 $4,010 48% 

Tacrolimus Prograf oral $7,843 $3,955 50% 

Prochlorperazine edisylate (generic) inj $604 $306 51% 

Leuprolide acetate (generic) inj $7,792 $3,955 51% 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $7,648 $3,966 52% 

Palonosetron Aloxi inj $1,000 $533 53% 

Aprepitant Emend oral $7,191 $3,918 54% 

Pamidronate disodium (generic) inf $3,450 $1,913 55% 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $6,361 $3,907 61% 

Daclizumab Zenapax inf $3,934 $2,455 62% 

Triptorelin pamoate Trelstar Depot inj $6,184 $3,907 63% 

Calcitonin salmon Miacalcin inj $4,490 $2,838 63% 

Methotrexate (generic) oral $234 $162 69% 

Goserelin acetate Zoladex implant $4,817 $3,405 71% 

Cromolyn sodium Nasalcrom neb $401 $287 72% 

Gentamicin Garamycin $403 $293 73% 

Leuprolide acetate Viadur implant $4,833 $3,853 80% 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $55 $55 100% 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $39 $39 100% 

Promethazine Phenergan inj $84 $84 100% 

Trimethobenzamide (generic) inj $53 $53 100% 

Dexamethasone (generic) oral $77 $77 100% 

Diphenhydramine (generic) oral $24 $24 100% 

Prednisone (generic) oral $33 $33 100% 

Methotrexate sodium (generic) inj $51 $51 100% 

Fluphenazine decanoate Prolixin inj $69 $69 100% 

Methylprednisolone Medrol oral $90 $90 100% 

Prednisolone Oprapred oral $72 $72 100% 

Magnesium sulfate (generic) $174 $174 100% 
49

Table E3. Difference Between Annual Beneficiary Costs in Part B and Part D 

 If Drug is Only Drug Beneficiary Uses in Part D 

Annual Total Costs 

Annual Beneficiary 

Costs 

HCPCS label Brand Name form Part B Part D Part B Part D 

Annual 

beneficiary 

cost 

difference 

Tacrolimus Prograf inj $57,277 $59,249 $11,455 $6,566 -$4,890 

Lymphocyte immune 

globulin Atgam inj $30,129 $33,904 $6,026 $5,670 -$356 

Trimethobenzamide (generic) inj $387 $53 $77 $53 -$25 

Dexamethasone (generic) oral $296 $77 $59 $77 $18 

Prednisone (generic) oral $69 $33 $14 $33 $19 

Diphenhydramine (generic) oral $1 $24 $0 $24 $24 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $2 $39 $0 $39 $39 

Methotrexate sodium (generic) inj $30 $51 $6 $51 $45 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $3 $55 $1 $55 $55 

Prednisolone Oprapred oral $64 $72 $13 $72 $60 

Fluphenazine decanoate Prolixin inj $18 $69 $4 $69 $65 

Promethazine Phenergan inj $44 $84 $9 $84 $76 

Methylprednisolone Medrol oral $26 $90 $5 $90 $85 

Magnesium sulfate (generic) $106 $174 $21 $174 $153 

Methotrexate (generic) oral $31 $234 $6 $162 $155 

Sirolimus Rapamune oral $5,201 $2,808 $1,040 $1,235 $195 

Gentamicin Garamycin $386 $403 $77 $293 $216 

Azathioprine (generic) oral $444 $916 $89 $310 $221 

Metoclopramide Reglan inj $476 $1,247 $95 $325 $230 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,902 $354 $595 $241 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,796 $354 $595 $241 

Cromolyn sodium Nasalcrom neb $149 $401 $30 $287 $257 

Metaproterenol (generic) neb $257 $1,140 $51 $315 $264 

Prochlorperazine edisylate (generic) inj $196 $604 $39 $306 $267 

Cyclosporine (generic) inf $22,286 $24,965 $4,457 $4,800 $342 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,809 $1,935 $362 $709 $347 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,673 $2,025 $335 $730 $395 

Palonosetron Aloxi inj $419 $1,000 $84 $533 $449 

Dolasetron mesylate Anzemet oral $1,169 $1,579 $234 $714 $480 

Granisetron Kytril oral $2,120 $2,696 $424 $1,122 $698 

Etanercept Enbrel inj $15,589 $16,068 $3,118 $4,391 $1,273 

Adalimumab Humira inj $15,277 $16,068 $3,055 $4,391 $1,335 

Daclizumab Zenapax inf $4,719 $3,934 $944 $2,455 $1,511 

Pamidronate disodium (generic) inf $1,222 $3,450 $244 $1,913 $1,668 

Infliximab Remicade inf $12,895 $14,279 $2,579 $4,295 $1,716 

Calcitonin salmon Miacalcin inj $3,916 $4,490 $783 $2,838 $2,055 

Zoledronic acid Zometa inf $9,840 $10,477 $1,968 $4,117 $2,149 

Aprepitant+Dexamethasone 

+Ondansetron oral $8,952 $9,171 $1,790 $4,024 $2,233 

Antithymocyte globulin 

rabbit Thymoglobulin inj $10,594 $13,262 $2,119 $4,380 $2,261 

Cyclosporine (generic) oral $9,561 $13,985 $1,912 $4,251 $2,339 

Abarelix Plenaxis inj $8,234 $8,278 $1,647 $4,010 $2,363 

Goserelin acetate Zoladex implant $2,405 $4,817 $1,032* $3,405 $2,373 

Mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept oral $7,335 $8,340 $1,467 $3,975 $2,508 

Tacrolimus Prograf oral $7,179 $7,843 $1,436 $3,955 $2,519 

Aprepitant Emend oral $6,888 $7,191 $1,378 $3,918 $2,540 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $2,765 $7,648 $1,391* $3,966 $2,575 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $5,183 $6,361 $1,037 $3,907 $2,870 

Triptorelin pamoate Trelstar Depot inj $2,138 $6,184 $764* $3,907 $3,163 

Leuprolide acetate (generic) inj $2,428 $7,792 $486 $3,955 $3,470 

Leuprolide acetate Viadur implant $1,717 $4,833 $343* $3,853 $3,509 

* Includes the effect of the Least Costly Alternative policy
50

Table E4. Difference Between Annual Government Costs in Part B and Plan Costs in Part D 

 If Drug is Only Drug Beneficiary Uses in Part D 

annual costs 

HCPCS label Brand Name form 

Part B 

Total 

Part D 

Total 

Part B 

Medicare 

Part D 

Plan 

 

Beneficiary 

Share, 

Part D 

$ diff, 

plan - 

Medicare 

Sirolimus Rapamune oral $5,201 $2,808 $4,161 $1,573 44% -$2,588 

Abarelix Plenaxis inj $8,234 $8,278 $6,588 $4,268 48% -$2,320 

Daclizumab Zenapax inf $4,719 $3,934 $3,775 $1,479 62% -$2,296 

Aprepitant Emend oral $6,888 $7,191 $5,510 $3,273 54% -$2,237 

Aprepitant+Dexamethasone 

+Ondansetron oral $8,952 $9,171 $7,161 $5,147 44% -$2,014 

Tacrolimus Prograf oral $7,179 $7,843 $5,743 $3,888 50% -$1,855 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $5,183 $6,361 $4,147 $2,455 61% -$1,692 

Zoledronic acid Zometa inf $9,840 $10,477 $7,872 $6,360 39% -$1,512 

Mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept oral $7,335 $8,340 $5,868 $4,365 48% -$1,503 

Calcitonin salmon Miacalcin inj $3,916 $4,490 $3,133 $1,651 63% -$1,481 

Etanercept Enbrel inj $15,589 $16,068 $12,471 $11,677 27% -$795 

Adalimumab Humira inj $15,277 $16,068 $12,222 $11,677 27% -$545 

Leuprolide acetate Viadur implant $1,717 $4,833 $1,374* $980 80% -$393 

Infliximab Remicade inf $12,895 $14,279 $10,316 $9,983 30% -$333 

Trimethobenzamide (generic) inj $387 $53 $309 $0 100% -$309 

Dexamethasone (generic) oral $296 $77 $237 $0 100% -$237 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,809 $1,935 $1,447 $1,226 37% -$222 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,796 $1,414 $1,201 33% -$213 

Gentamicin Garamycin $386 $403 $309 $110 73% -$198 

Granisetron Kytril oral $2,120 $2,696 $1,696 $1,574 42% -$122 

Ondansetron Zofran oral $1,768 $1,902 $1,414 $1,307 31% -$107 

Magnesium sulfate (generic) $106 $174 $85 $0 100% -$85 

Dolasetron mesylate Anzemet oral $1,169 $1,579 $935 $865 45% -$70 

Prednisone (generic) oral $69 $33 $55 $0 100% -$55 

Prednisolone Oprapred oral $64 $72 $51 $0 100% -$51 

Dronabinol Marinol oral $1,673 $2,025 $1,338 $1,296 36% -$42 

Promethazine Phenergan inj $44 $84 $36 $0 100% -$36 

Methotrexate sodium (generic) inj $30 $51 $24 $0 100% -$24 

Methylprednisolone Medrol oral $26 $90 $21 $0 100% -$21 

Fluphenazine decanoate Prolixin inj $18 $69 $14 $0 100% -$14 

Cromolyn sodium Nasalcrom neb $149 $401 $119 $114 72% -$6 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $3 $55 $2 $0 100% -$2 

Prochlorperazine maleate (generic) oral $2 $39 $2 $0 100% -$2 

Diphenhydramine (generic) oral $1 $24 $1 $0 100% -$1 

Goserelin acetate Zoladex implant $2,405 $4,817 $1,374* $1,412 71% $39 

Methotrexate (generic) oral $31 $234 $25 $73 69% $47 

Palonosetron Aloxi inj $419 $1,000 $335 $467 53% $132 

Prochlorperazine edisylate (generic) inj $196 $604 $157 $298 51% $141 

Azathioprine (generic) oral $444 $916 $355 $606 34% $251 

Antithymocyte globulin 

rabbit Thymoglobulin inj $10,594 $13,262 $8,475 $8,882 33% $407 

Metoclopramide Reglan inj $476 $1,247 $381 $922 26% $541 

Pamidronate disodium (generic) inf $1,222 $3,450 $978 $1,537 55% $559 

Metaproterenol (generic) neb $257 $1,140 $206 $825 28% $619 

Triptorelin pamoate Trelstar Depot inj $2,138 $6,184 $1,374* $2,277 63% $903 

Leuprolide acetate (generic) inj $2,428 $7,792 $1,942 $3,837 51% $1,895 

Cyclosporine (generic) oral $9,561 $13,985 $7,649 $9,734 30% $2,085 

Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot inj $2,765 $7,648 $1,374* $3,682 52% $2,308 

Cyclosporine (generic) inf $22,286 $24,965 $17,829 $20,166 19% $2,337 

Lymphocyte immune 

globulin Atgam inj $30,129 $33,904 $24,103 $28,234 17% $4,131 

Tacrolimus Prograf inj $57,277 $59,249 $45,822 $52,683 11% $6,861 

* Includes the effect of the Least Costly Alternative policy
51

Appendix F. Methodology 

Key Informant Interviews 

In this project, we conducted interviews in early 2007 with individuals at health plans, pharmacies, 

and trade organizations to discuss the issues they have encountered in dispensing and adjudicating 

claims for drugs that could be covered either by Part B or by Part D. 

Type of Stakeholder Number of Interviews 

Health plan 4 

Pharmacies 5 

Pharmacists 2 

Beneficiary advocates 1 

Total interviews 12 

Formulary Coverage 

We used plan formulary files provided by CMS to determine coverage, tier status, and whether there 

is a prior authorization requirement. To select a list of drugs for study, we compared two lists: the 

drugs that had Part B claims in 2004, and the list of drugs for which Part D plans must report 

coverage status (the 2007 Reference File). 

We selected a list of 276 chemical entities that are on both of these lists. For these chemical entities, 

there are 460 different products with different trade names (e.g., Claritin, loratadine). We have 

included the full drug product list in our analysis because plans tend to differentiate along the 

characteristics of trade name when setting coverage, tier status, and prior authorization 

requirements. To analyze of whether at least one version of each chemical entity is covered, we 

have also subset the list to chemical entities. 

Because many plans have a policy of not covering a brand name version of a drug when the generic 

is available, when considering coverage of chemical entities, we looked at the most commonly 

covered trade name for the product (usually the generic version of a drug). Our list of chemical 

entities includes 120 generics and 156 brand name drugs. Our list of drug products includes an 

additional 35 generic versions of those chemical entities (typically branded generics) and an 

additional 147 brand name versions. 

In this analysis, we do not consider different strengths of the same drug to be different products, 

except where that distinction is included in the trade name of the drug. 
52

Plans submitted tiering information in a non-standardized format, so that tier numbers in the 

formulary files can have completely different meanings. For example: 

Tier Listed in 

Formulary File Plan A’s Meaning Plan B’s Meaning Plan C’s Meaning 

1 25% Coinsurance Preferred Generics Generics 

2 25% Coinsurance Non-Preferred Generics Brands 

3 25% Coinsurance Preferred Brands Specialty Drugs 

4 Non-Preferred Brands 

5 Injectible Drugs 

6 Specialty Drugs 

As much as possible, we have standardized tier information. First, we have consolidated tiers that 

are consecutive in the tier listing and have the same cost sharing. For example, some plans in the 

formulary files list a preferred generic tier and a non-preferred generic tier (like Plan B in the 

example above). However, most do not assign different cost sharing to the two tiers. In our 

standardization, we treat both as the same generic tier when they have the same cost sharing. 

Similarly, some plans label separate tiers for injectible and specialty drugs. If these tiers have the 

same cost sharing, we treat them as the same specialty tier. We have not been able to determine 

whether plans intend all of the restrictions of a specialty tier (e.g., lack of appeals rights over tier 

placement) to apply to their tiers labeled as “injectibles.” 

Based on whether plans appear to have a standard, two-tier, or three-tier structure, we have assigned 

the following names to tiers: 

Standard Benefit Two Tier Plans Three Tier Plans 

25% Coinsurance Tier (C25) Generic (G) Generic (G) 

 Brand (B) Preferred Brand (PB) 

 Specialty, if used (S) Non-preferred Brand (NPB) 

 Specialty, if used (S) 

A few plans with very unusual tier structures do not fit into this format, and we have labeled all of 

their tiers as “other.” 

Price Comparisons 

We selected a range of HCPCS codes that represent drugs for which ASP+6% has been determined 

in Part B, focusing on particular therapeutic classes of interest as well as drugs that would represent 

a wide range of prices. Each HCPCS code is associated with a particular form and strength of a 

drug. Using a crosswalk, we determined the NDC codes associated with each HCPCS code and 

then searched for the NDC codes in the Part D Formulary Reference File to determine which drugs 

plans are required to report coverage status under Part D. 

For each drug, we used publicly available resources to determine a recommended monthly dose. 

For dosing guidelines that use weight, we used a weight of 75 kg. For dosing guidelines that use 

height, we used a height of 167 cm. For anti-emetics, we assumed a chemotherapy schedule of two 

times per month. We then rounded some doses to the nearest available unit of the drug, because 

the Medicare Plan Finder requires the use of whole numbers. 
53

For most drugs, we were able to find an exact match by strength between the unit given for the 

HCPCS code and one of the dosages available on the Medicare Plan Finder. When this was not 

possible, we used the same total dosage per month but a different strength pill or a different size 

vial. 

For most drugs in our dataset, we calculated Part B cost sharing at 20% of ASP+6%, using CMS’ 

January 2007 ASP calculations. However, we identified four of the HCPCS codes in our dataset as 

being frequently subject to the Least Costly Alternative policy8: 

HCPCS Generic Name Trade Name Form Unit 

J9217 Leuprolide acetate Lupron Depot injection 7.5 MG 

J9219 Leuprolide acetate Viadur implant 65 MG 

J9202 Goserelin acetate Zoladex implant 3.6 MG 

J3315 Triptorelin pamoate Trelstar Depot injection 3.75 MG 

 

For these four drugs, we applied the policy, calculating cost sharing as 20% of the least costly 

alternative (Viadur) plus the difference in cost between the drug and the least costly alternative. 

For Part D cost sharing, we collected price data from the Medicare Plan Finder for the 47 PDPs that 

are available in at least 30 regions. For each drug, we then calculated the median negotiated price 

and the median beneficiary cost sharing during the initial coverage period. 

Using these typical amounts, we calculated beneficiary cost sharing based on a standardized version 

of the Part D benefit. We assumed the following: 

 a $265 deductible 

 cost sharing in the initial coverage period equal to the median plan’s cost sharing 

 a coverage limit for all drugs starting at $2400 in total spending (calculated from the median 

plan’s negotiated price) 

 a catastrophic cap starting at $3850 in beneficiary spending 

 beneficiary spending in the catastrophic benefit equal to the greater of $5.35 or 5% of the 

median negotiated price of the drug 

For simplicity, we considered each drug individually, as though a beneficiary has no other Part D 

spending. 

 

8 American Urological Association. “Drugs Covered in State LCA Policy.” Available at 

http://www.auanet.org/coding/reimburse/lcadrugs.pdf ; accessed July 20, 2007.