New Aetna formulary enhancements for 2023

Great news: Formulary enhancements for 2023

Starting in 2023, many of the top medications taken by Aetna Medicare members will be on a lower drug tier, Tiers 1 and 2. In fact, nearly 300 drugs are moving to a lower drug tier. This includes drugs for asthma, depression, anxiety, and more. And many drugs for high blood pressure and high cholesterol are already on Tiers 1 and 2.

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What’s the big deal?

These formulary updates may help members save on prescription costs. See top down-tiered drugs by formulary & tier here.

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For example, some of the Tier 3 drugs moving to Tier 2 include:

• ALBUTEROL SULFATE HFA (asthma, COPD)
• ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE (depression, anxiety)
• CELECOXIB (pain relief, inflammation)
• BUPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE ER (XL) (depression, smoking cessation)

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Other fun facts

• Aetna has down-tiered nearly 300 drugs across each of formularies: B2: 294; B4/B4+: 279; B5: 278
  
• Improved the volume of Tier 1 and 2 drugs on MAPD formularies by 45% (compared with 2022)
• Nearly 8 in 10 members will continue to have access to $0/$0 Tier 1 and 2 copay structure
• Added ~10 new drugs to MAPD formularies including popular drugs such as: Eligard (prostate cancer), Gemtesa (overactive bladder), Lantus (diabetes)*, Toujeo (diabetes)*, Truxima (biosimilar, rheumatoid arthritis)

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*Drug already on B5+ in 2022

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How can these formulary changes impact your clients?

Help your clients review which tier their drug will be on next year and what those tier costs will be. This is the best way to help them prepare for 2023 and be ready at the start of the new year. Go to AetnaMedicare.com/formulary to check drug costs and discover savings