NBC Montana: 10 Medicare drugs decrease in price, Montanans impacted

The Biden Administration announced a deal that looks to cut the cost of ten Medicare drugs. Officials say at least $6 billion will be saved with these new prices.

According to a spokesperson for U.S. Senator Jon Tester, nearly 25,000 Montana seniors look to save up to 79% with the new prices.

An official with Tester said that there were no Senate cosponsors for this bill, but Tester was the only member of Montana congressional delegation to support the piece of legislation.

Tester backed provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that permitted Medicare to negotiate the price of covered prescription drugs.

“Montanans shouldn’t have to struggle to fill their lifesaving prescription medications because Big Pharma is jacking up prices, and today’s announcement is a big win for Montanans across our state,” Tester said in a statement. “That’s why I took the large pharmaceutical companies head-on to pass a commonsense law that will now officially lower the cost of 10 of the most common prescription drugs that Montanans rely on that treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood clots, and more. I’ll continue working to lower costs and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking families.”

Here’s a list of medication impacted and how much will be saved:

Eliquis – an anticoagulant medication used to treat and prevent blood clots and to prevent stroke.

• 2023 List Price: $521
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $231
• Savings: 56%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 10,246

Jardiance – an antidiabetic medication used to improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.

• 2023 List Price: $573
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $197
• Savings: 66%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 3,175

Xarelto – used to treat and prevent blood clots. May lower the risk of stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and similar conditions.

• 2023 List Price: $517
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $197
• Savings: 62%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 4,486

Januvia – used as a once-daily prescription pill that helps lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

• 2023 List Price: $527
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $113
• Savings: 79%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 1,928

Farxiga – used to treat type 2 diabetes. Also used to treat adults with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

• 2023 List Price: $556
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $178.50
• Savings: 68%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 991

Entresto – is a fixed-dose combination medication for use in heart failure.

• 2023 List Price: $628
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $295
• Savings: 53%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 858

Enbrel – a biologic medical product that is used to treat autoimmune diseases.

• 2023 List Price: $7,106
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $2,355
• Savings: 67%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 197

Imbruvica – used to treat certain cancers (such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia).

• 2023 List Price: $14,934
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $9,319
• Savings: 38%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 83

Stelara – used to treat adults 18 years and older with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.

• 2023 List Price: $13,836
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $4,695
• Savings: 66%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 62

Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill – insulin.

• 2023 List Price: $495
• 2026 Negotiated Price: $119
• Savings: 76%
• Estimated Montana Medicare Enrollees: 2,759