TitleWeb Most cost-effective prescription drugs
Professional
November 12, 2020
Page Content At AmeriHealth, we are committed to providing our members with high-quality, comprehensive, cost-effective prescription drug coverage. As part of our standard review, AmeriHealth has identified medications that have more cost-effective alternative options, and members prescribed these medications may benefit from a change to a lower-cost alternative: -
Brand drugs with generic equivalents: Members can save money by switching from a high-cost brand medication to a lower-cost generic equivalent.
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Non-preferred drugs with low-cost alternatives: Members can save money by switching from a non-preferred medication to a lower-cost therapeutically equivalent alternative.
The table below lists target prescription drugs, their alternatives, and an estimate of average savings for our members. A switch to an alternative medication may help to maximize member benefits and decrease health care spending. Please review these suggested alternatives and discuss with your patients where appropriate. |
Target drug |
Alternatives |
Average health care savings(Per Rx) |
Average member savings(Per Rx) |
|---|
Brand drugs with generic equivalents | Absorica® | Isotretinoin (generic Absorica®), Claravis™(Isotretinoin), Myorisan™ (Isotretinoin), Zenatane® (Isotretinoin) | $1,641 |
$166 | Ativan® | Lorazepam (generic Ativan) | $3,655 |
$171 | Onfi® | Clobazam (generic Onfi®) | $2,642 |
$187 | Prozac® | Fluoxetine (generic Prozac) | $1,019 |
$84 | Wellbutrin® XL | Bupropion HCl Tab ER (generic Wellbutrin® XL) | $1,797 |
$200 |
Non-preferred drugs with low-cost alternatives
| Aczone® Gel (brand and generic) dapsone 7.5%) | - Dapsone Gel 5 % (generic Aczone®) - Clindamycin Phosphate 1% (Foam, Gel, Lotion Solution, Swab) - Tazarotene cream 0.1% - Clindamycin-Benzoyl Peroxide Gel | - Erythromycin 2 % (Gel, Solution, Pads) - Benzoyl Peroxide-Erythromycin Gel 5-3 % - Adapalene (cream and solution) - Adapalene- Benzoyl Peroxide gel 0.1-2.5 % - Tretinoin 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% (generic Avita® gel and cream) | $390 |
$88 | Auvi-Q® | Epinephrine Solution Auto-injection (generic EpiPen®) | $3,148 |
$587 | Brovana® | Serevent® Diskus®, Spiriva®, Incruse® Ellipta®, Fluticasone-Salmeterol (generic Advair®), Advair®, Wixela™ Inhub™, Symbicort® | $609 |
$96 | Duexis® Ibuprofen 800mg + Famotidine 26.6mg |
H2 Blockers: Famotidine, Cimetidine, Nizatidine
NSAIDs: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Etodolac, Celecoxib, Meloxicam, Nabumetone, Diclofenac | $2,089 |
$220 | Fenoprofen | Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Etodolac, Celecoxib, Meloxicam, Nabumetone, Diclofenac | $1,022 |
$65 | Glumetza® (brand and generic metformin ER) 500mg, 1000mg | Metformin ER (generic Glucophage® XR) tablet 500mg, 750mg
Note: Two 500mg tablets can be substituted for one 1000mg Glumetza® | $5,971 |
$43 | Pennsaid® (Diclofenac Sodium 2%) | Diclofenac Sodium Gel 1.5%, Diclofenac Sodium Gel 3% | $2,434 |
$283 | Sprix® (ketorolac tromethamine 15.75 Mg/Spray) | Diclofenac Sodium Gel 1.5%, Diclofenac Sodium Gel 3%, Ketorolac, Meloxicam, Indomethacin, Indomethacin ER, Celecoxib | $1,716 |
$166 | Tirosint® (levothyroxine sodium capsule) | Levothyroxine (generic Synthroid®), Levoxyl® (levothyroxine), Euthyrox® (levothyroxine) | $53 |
$67 | Vimovo® (brand and generic) Naproxen 375mg or 500mg + Esomeprazole 20mg |
Proton Pump Inhibitor: Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole DR capsule, Lansoprazole DR Tablet, Rabeprazole, Omeprazole
NSAIDs: Naproxen Etodolac capsule, Etodolac Tablet, Etodolac ER tablet, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Diclofenac tablet, Diclofenac DR tablet, Diclofenac ER tablet 100mg | $2,013 |
$384 | Zegerid (brand and generic) Omeprazole 40mg/sodium bicarbonate 1100mg |
Proton Pump Inhibitor: Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole Rabeprazole
H2 Blockers: Famotidine, Cimetidine, Nizatidine
Note: Sodium bicarbonate 1100mg available OTC | $4,697 |
$107 |
Savings are captured as an estimate based on a switch to an alternative medication per monthly prescription. Actual member savings may vary by benefit plan. We recognize that you are best qualified to balance quality and cost-of-care considerations together with your patients in choosing the most appropriate medications. We provide this supplementary information to support your management of our members. There will not be changes to current pharmacy benefits at this time and coverage will remain the same.
This is solely for informational purposes. Learn moreIf you have any questions related to this information, please contact Provider Services at 1-888-YOUR-AH1 (1-888-968-7241) for AmeriHealth New Jersey or 1-800-275-2583 for AmeriHealth Pennsylvania.
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