Be Prepared: Doctors Alert on Flovent Inhaler Switch & Insurance Impact in January
TL/DR –
GSK is discontinuing the manufacture of the asthma inhaler Flovent on January 1, and will instead produce an “authorized generic” version, causing doctors to worry about patients navigating insurance coverage for the new product. Physicians believe the generic drug will be just as effective as the branded version, but it does not appear to be widely covered by insurance. This change is coming at a time when a change in Medicaid rebates could cause the company to pay large penalties due to price increases on Flovent over several years, according to industry experts.
Pharmacy shelves to lose popular asthma medication, Flovent
From January 1, a popular asthma drug, Flovent, will no longer be available, causing worry over potential delays in patients switching to alternatives and obtaining insurance cover. GSK, the manufacturer, has announced it’s discontinuing this branded asthma inhaler in favor of an “authorized generic” version, identical but without the brand name.
Medical professionals reassure that the authorized generic Branded Flovent will work equally well. However, it doesn’t appear to be as widely covered by insurers. Patients may need to secure new prescriptions and navigate insurance coverage at the peak of the respiratory virus season. It’s recommended that patients act now to secure their medicine for the new year.
Flovent’s disappearance and the limited insurance coverage for its replacement shed light on the complexities of American healthcare and drug pricing.
Medicaid’s drug program set for significant changes
A spokesperson for GSK stated that the company is transitioning to the generic version “as part of our commitment to be ambitious for patients.” She mentioned the introduction of authorized generics of Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus in May 2022 and October 2023. Following this, the branded versions will cease production in the U.S. from January 1, 2024. She stated, “the authorized generics will provide patients in the US with potentially lower cost alternatives of these medically important products.”
However, industry experts highlight that GSK’s switch coincides with a change in Medicaid rebates. This could lead to significant penalties due to price increases on Flovent over several years. The legal change, effective from the new year, eliminates a cap on Medicaid rebates that companies must pay if they raise drug prices above inflation. CNN analyst Andrew Baum stated, “pharma doesn’t want to be selling at a loss on anything in its portfolio, so it seeks to evade impact by discontinuation and authorized generic.”
According to GoodRx data, the price of branded Flovent has increased by about 47% since 2014. Many pharmaceutical companies, including insulin manufacturers, have also adjusted their prices ahead of the January 1 rebate cap removal.
Preparing for the worst of the respiratory virus season
The lack of broad insurance coverage for Flovent’s authorized generic means patients need to acquire a new prescription for a completely different medication during the winter, the worst possible time of year for respiratory viruses. Flovent has been a widely used daily preventive anti-inflammatory medication for persistent asthma patients for decades.
Dr. Erin Syverson, an attending physician at Boston Children’s Hospital, expressed worries about the upcoming discontinuation. There are limited alternatives for specific patient groups. For example, for patients with a rare inflammatory condition called eosinophilic esophagitis, Flovent HFA is one of the most prescribed topical steroids.
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