The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently released the initial raw data on the 2019 Medicare Part D plans.
Our exclusive analysis of these data reveals that preferred cost sharing pharmacy networks will be slightly less popular next year. For 2019, 92% of Medicare Part D regional prescription drug plans (PDP) will have a preferred network. This figure compares with 99% of plans in 2018. The decline will occur primarily because two Humana plans will switch from preferred to open networks for 2019.
Below, I provide historical context on preferred networks’ growth and then discuss the top nine companies behind the 2019 plans. As you will see, narrow pharmacy networks are now an essential and established component of Part D benefit design.
Especially notable will be CVS Health’s SilverScript Allure, the first Part D plan with point-of-sale (POS) rebates for brand drugs. Is Allure the next generation of Part D plan design, or an unattractive offer that helps CVS stop a mandated policy shift that it opposes?
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