U.S. government to release preliminary list for pilot Medicare program offering generics under $2 – report

The Biden administration plans to release a preliminary list of drugs on Wednesday that will be covered under a Medicare pilot program offering generics under $2 out of pocket, according to an Axios report citing U.S. officials.

The initiative will cover common drugs for high cholesterol and blood pressure and other chronic conditions. Officials told Axios the White House will release a list of 101 generic drugs and seek feedback.

The list will include common prescription drugs like penicillin, metformin, lithium and albuterol asthma inhalers, along with 35 drugs for hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions.

The drugs would not be subject to prior authorization or quantity limits. The pilot program is not expected to start until January 2027, Axios said in the report citing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and will be optional for Medicare prescription drug plans.

Starting in 2025, all Medicare beneficiaries will have a $2,000 annual cap on their out-of-pocket drug costs.