E2582 - he Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: Access, Affordability & the Pharmacist’s Role | TWIRx

TWIRx NEWS 1. Medicare Part D Paid Nearly $588 Million for Ineligible OTC Drugs

 

A federal audit found that Medicare Part D sponsors made approximately $587.7 million in ineligible payments from 2021 through 2023 for medications that had effectively transitioned from prescription to over-the-counter status.

 

The HHS Office of Inspector General cited outdated FDA information and the lack of a clear CMS rejection timeline as major contributors.

 

Why it matters: This exposes a serious coordination problem across FDA data, manufacturers, CMS, health plans and pharmacy claims systems.

 

Pharmacists may see the rej...