Prices for life-saving medicines to fall

(Missoula Current) Patients who rely on 10 life-saving prescription drugs can expect a price reduction under negotiations authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. These include insulin and Eliquis.

Senator Jon Tester said Thursday that about 25,000 seniors in Montana who receive Medicare will benefit from cost savings of up to 75%. Medicare beneficiaries across the country will save about $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs with the implementation of the new prices.

“Montana residents should not have to struggle to get their life-saving prescription drugs just because the pharmaceutical industry is driving up prices. Today's announcement is a huge win for Montana residents across the state,” Tester said in a statement.

Tester said the price cuts would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Tester was the only member of Montana's congressional delegation to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act.

For the first time ever, the law allowed Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs covered by the insurance plan. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers for 10 qualified drugs for 2026 and 15 drugs each for 2027 and 2028.

For the year 2029 and each subsequent year, 20 medicinal products will be negotiated.

“I went to work with big pharmaceutical companies to pass common-sense legislation that now officially lowers the cost of 10 of the most common prescription drugs that Montanans rely on to treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood clots and more,” Tester said. “I will continue to work to lower costs and put more money in the pockets of hardworking families.”

According to the tester, the medications include the following:

1. Eliquis – an anticoagulant used to treat and prevent blood clots and to prevent strokes.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $521
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $231
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 56%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 10,246
2. Jardiance – an antidiabetic medicine used to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $573
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $197
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 66%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 3,175
3. Xarelto – used to treat and prevent blood clots. May reduce the risk of stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and similar conditions.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $517
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $197
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 62%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 4,486
4. Januvia – used as a prescription tablet once daily, helps lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $527
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $113
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 79%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 1,928
5. Farxiga – used to treat type 2 diabetes. Also used to treat adults with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $556
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $178.50
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 68%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 991
6. Entresto – is a fixed-dose combination medicine used to treat heart failure.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $628
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $295
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 53%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 858
7. Enbrel – a biological medicine used to treat autoimmune diseases.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $7,106
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $2,355
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 67%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 197
8. Imbruvica – used to treat certain types of cancer (such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small cell lymphocytic lymphoma, Waldenström’s disease).
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $14,934
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: USD 9,319
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 38%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 83
9. Stelara – for the treatment of adults aged 18 years and over with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.
   • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $13,836
   • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $4,695
   • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 66%
   • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 62
10. fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill – Insulin.
    • List price for 30-day supply, calendar year 2023: $495
    • NEW Negotiated maximum price for 30-day supply for calendar year 2026: $119
    • Percentage savings compared to the new price: 76%
    • Estimated number of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana using the drug: 2,759