Drug Manufacturers Sign Pledge to Provide 50% Discount During Donut Hole
Posted Oct 05 2010 6:00am
CMS has disclosed that 234 drug manufacturers that sell drugs covered by Medicare Part D have signed a pledge to provide a 50% discount to seniors who fall into the coverage gap, or doughnut hole.
The drug manufacturers on the list represent 99.9% of all drugs covered by Medicare Part D in 2009, according to CMS. One manufacturer declined to sign the agreement, taking three drugs out of the Part D formulary. These drugs had limited use in 2009, and will be replaced in 2011, according to a Bureau of National Affairs report.
In related news, a study from Avalere Health finds that the number of prescription drug plans that will cover brand-name drugs in the Part D coverage gap will climb to 106 in 2011, up from just 35 this year. The plans are expected to cost slightly more, and will cover only a select amount of drugs in the coverage gap—typically drugs for chronic illnesses, according to The Associated Press.
CMS has disclosed that 234 drug manufacturers that sell drugs covered by Medicare Part D have signed a pledge to provide a 50% discount to seniors who fall into the coverage gap, or doughnut hole.
The drug manufacturers on the list represent 99.9% of all drugs covered by Medicare Part D in 2009, according to CMS. One manufacturer declined to sign the agreement, taking three drugs out of the Part D formulary. These drugs had limited use in 2009, and will be replaced in 2011, according to a Bureau of National Affairs report.
In related news, a study from Avalere Health finds that the number of prescription drug plans that will cover brand-name drugs in the Part D coverage gap will climb to 106 in 2011, up from just 35 this year. The plans are expected to cost slightly more, and will cover only a select amount of drugs in the coverage gap—typically drugs for chronic illnesses, according to The Associated Press.
Source: McKnights