CMS spent $103 billion on Medicare Part D in 2013, $2.5 billion on Nexium
CMS spent $2.5 billion on the heartburn drug in 2013 on 8.2 million claims.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it was releasing the data to provide greater transparency on what drugs were being prescribed, and by which physicians.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spent more than $103 billion on prescription drugs in 2013 under the Medicare Part D program.
CMS said it was releasing the data to provide greater transparency on what drugs were being prescribed, and by which physicians.
According to the agency, about 36 million people, accounting for 68 percent of beneficiaries, enrolled in Part D, which subsidizes drug prices for beneficiaries.
High blood pressure drug Lisinopril, marketed as Zestril or Prinival, was the most prescribed drug by claim count at nearly 37 billion claims. But heartburn drug Nexium led when it came to total cost to Medicare. CMS spent $2.5 billion on the drug in 2013 on 8.2 million claims.
Here’s the full list of national averages by drug type:
| Drug name | Generic name | Total claims | Total dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Generic name | Total claims | Total dollars |
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