Optum Rx, the pharmacy benefit manager unit of UnitedHealth, announced that it is moving eight rapid-, short-, and long-acting insulin products to tier one preferred status, which offers the lowest cash price that consumers pay.1 The move, which goes into effect on January 1, 2024, will limit out-of-pocket spending to $35 or less for insulin product for patients with diabetes. Our goal is to make all essential medicines affordable.”Three manufacturers—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—will have their insulin products added to the tier one preferred status. The analysis included 92% of retail pharmacies and 70% of mail-order and long-term care pharmacies, accounting for approximately 14 million total insulin fills. The study found that the number of insulin fills by Medicare Part D enrollees grew from 519,588 to 523,564 per month after the cap was introduced in January 2023. Insulin fills by individuals who were not enrolled in Medicare Part D dropped from 344,719 to 330,229 per month over the same period, according to the study.4

Source: CNN November 10, 2023 20:55 UTC