The high cost of Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen and Oxycodone

[sam816]

According to Medicare.gov the prices for these meds are getting out of control for MAPD subscribers next year. they are listed as tier 2/3 meds by plans in AZ maricopa county, but the cost for Hydrocodone is $9082 according to BCBS and $4507 per UHC, and the cost by oxycodone is $747 per BCBS and $982 per UHC.

Have no idea if these will be the actual prices or fictitious numbers just trying to combat the opioid epidemic, but it has created a little panic and made plan comparison difficult.

 

[TN_agent]

Maybe Medicare is starting to list the street prices of controlled substances...

 

[somarco]

I ran a PDP for a client a few days ago. Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5-325 is $6 for 90 tablets.

Hard to believe that much difference in MAPD pricing vs PDP

 

[Chazm]

Yeah I just looked today and those were not the numbers. You put something in wrong.

 

[sam816]

I ran a PDP for a client a few days ago. Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5-325 is $6 for 90 tablets.

Hard to believe that much difference in MAPD pricing vs PDP

Don't know what was wrong, just retrieved the drug list and hydrocodone 7.5-325 is $29.6 for 120 tablets by BCBS, with a keynote saying "Opioid pain medications are subject to additional safety review".

Saw those big numbers on Saturday afternoon when I was with a couple clients.

 

[Chazm]

Don't know what was wrong, just retrieved the drug list and hydrocodone 7.5-325 is $29.6 for 120 tablets by BCBS, with a keynote saying "Opioid pain medications are subject to additional safety review".

Saw those big numbers on Saturday afternoon when I was with a couple clients.

I’m confused. Are you seeing $9k or $29? I thought the issue what the high cost of it at $9k

 

[DS4]

. they are listed as tier 2/3 meds by plans in AZ maricopa county, but the cost for Hydrocodone is $9082 according to BCBS and $4507 per UHC, and the cost by oxycodone is $747 per BCBS and $982 per UHC.

When this happens, I just log off for a few days. After a few days, the numbers then look normal.

 

[bpenn9]

With hydrocodone makes a huge difference on the 5-325 or whatever you enter, there is one when you enter 10- whatever or something like that, where hydro goes through the roof. Hope this makes sense, I am ready for Dec 8th now!

 

[sam816]

I’m confused. Are you seeing $9k or $29? I thought the issue what the high cost of it at $9k

Saw $9k on Saturday and $29 today, now I have to tell client why.

 

[somarco]

Blame it on Medicare.gov