Blood Thinners & Anti-Obesity Shots Dominate Medicare Drug Spending

Medicare's pharmacy spending is significantly influenced by a small number of high-cost drugs. In 2023, Eliquis, a blood thinner, topped Medicare spending at $18.3 billion, almost double Ozempic. Anticoagulants like Eliquis and Xarelto accounted for over $24 billion in Medicare spending. The rise in blood thinner prescriptions reflects an aging population and preventative measures for conditions like stroke. Diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Jardiance, Trulicity, and Farxiga totaled $29.7 billion. Ozempic and Mounjaro also function as weight-loss aids, expanding their use beyond diabetes patients. The high cost per dose of these drugs, like Ozempic at $356, drives up spending. Cancer and autoimmune biologics, like Revlimid, Humira, and Stelara, are also expensive, exceeding $3 billion each. Stelara's high cost of $26,818 per dose exemplifies the financial impact of specialty biologics. The data emphasizes the large sums spent on medications through Medicare Part D.