The analysis follows proposals in the US to lower drug prices. The House, at its 116th Congress, passed legislation (H.R.3) to allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices for up to 250 brand-name drugs lacking generic or biosimilar competition with the highest net spending in Medicare Part D. While the Trump administration issued a final rule to establish a model through the CMS Innovation Center that would base Medicare’s payment for the 50 highest-spending Part B drugs.

In fact, for biosimilars this is perhaps not surprising when considering that biosimilars currently make up only 2.3% of the US biologicals marketplace. Presently, 90% of global biosimilars sales take place in Europe, despite 60% of overall biologicals sales occurring in the US [2].

In 2019, the net total Medicare Part D** spending on the 3,500 drugs covered by the scheme was US$145 billion. The KFF analysis found that the 250 top-selling drugs (or 7% of total drugs) with only one manufacturer and no generic or biosimilar medicines competition accounted for approximately US$87 billion or 60% of total drug spending, see Table 1.

For Medicare Part B, the total spending on the 588 drugs covered by the scheme in 2019 was US$37 billion. The KFF analysis found that the 50 top-selling drugs (or 8.5% of total drugs) accounted for approximately US$37 billion or 80% of total drug spending, see Figure 1.

Figure 1: Share of Medicare spending

The findings suggest that focusing on reducing prices for a limited number of high-cost drugs could achieve significant savings.

In the following series of two articles the details of drug spending for Medicare Part D and Part B are discussed.

*Medicare is a national social insurance programme, administered by the US federal government since 1966. It provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system, as well as to younger people with disabilities.
**Medicare Part D is an optional programme to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for their prescription drugs.
#Medicare Part B pays for prescription drugs administered by physicians and other providers in outpatient settings for conditions such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Related articles
A few drugs account for most of Medicare Part B spending

A few drugs account for most of Medicare Part D spending

  
References
1. Cubanski J, Neuman T. Relatively few drugs account for a large share of medicare prescription drug spending. KFF. 19 April 2021.
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. The sluggish US biosimilars market [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jun 4]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Reports/The-sluggish-US-biosimilars-market%20 

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