Conference Coverage

MS drugs in Medicare Part D: Higher tiers, less coverage, more prior authorizations


 

REPORTING FROM AAN 2018


Based on 2016 coverage characteristics, Dr. Hartung and his associates estimated that the expected annual out-of-pocket costs for patients in 2019 would be over $5,000 for all drugs in the analysis, after accounting for the Bipartisan Budget Act’s closing the Part D coverage gap in 2019.

Part D covers noninfusible DMTs, which in this analysis included glatiramer acetate 20 and 40 mg (Copaxone 20 and Copaxone 40), generic glatiramer acetate 20 mg (Glatopa), interferon beta-1a intramuscular (Avonex), interferon beta-1a subcutaneous (Rebif), interferon beta-1b (Extavia and Betaseron), peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy), fingolimod (Gilenya), teriflunomide (Aubagio), and dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera). The infusible drugs natalizumab (Tysabri), alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), and ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) fall under Medicare Part B.

The study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. None of the authors had anything to disclose.

SOURCE: Hartung D et al. AAN 2018. Abstract P3.161

Pages

Recommended Reading

Patients With MS May Not Receive Appropriate Medicines From Primary Care Doctors
MDedge Neurology
What Is the Mechanism of Alemtuzumab-Induced Autoimmunity?
MDedge Neurology
High Dose of Novel Compound Shows Promise for Relapsing-Remitting MS
MDedge Neurology
Ari Green, MD
MDedge Neurology
Updates in MS: Highlights From the ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS Annual Meetings
MDedge Neurology
Rare, serious alemtuzumab adverse events emerge
MDedge Neurology
Multiple sclerosis “top picks” from AAN 2018
MDedge Neurology
Blood-brain barrier health may signal early loss of MS treatment response
MDedge Neurology
Eating Fish May Be Associated With a Reduced Risk of MS
MDedge Neurology
VIDEO: AAN MS guidelines aim to help clinicians weigh expanding drug choices
MDedge Neurology