For example, pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark indicated it will no longer cover insulin brand Lantus, and will instead cover a new biosimilar to the drug, called Basaglar.
Prices for many insulin brands have increased in recent years. According to drug discount search company GoodRx, prices for Lantus increased about 60 percent, from $240 to $380, between January 2013 and October 2016, USA Today reports. Humalog and many other insulin brands have risen from about $300 to $500.
Troyven Brennan, MD, a physician and chief health officer at CVS Caremark, said patients who have a bad reaction to a change in insulin can request an exception to the new formulary, according to the report.
More articles on supply chain:
Value-based supply chain management: 5 questions with Cardinal Health’s Carola Endicott and Ken Shastany
FDA shoots down Cempra’s antibiotic for pneumonia
FDA warns hospitals of battery-powered medical cart fires, explosions
