Latest news with #inhaler
Health Line
18 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
The Cost Breztri of with Medicare
Breztri can cost $400 or more without insurance, but Medicare may cover inhaler drugs for COPD, including Breztri. That said, the specific coverage and costs vary based on your exact plan. Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) is a metered-dose inhaler designed for adults living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Medicare might help cover the cost of Breztri for COPD, but it's important to check the specifics of your plan, as there's no nationwide rule for inhaler coverage. Each Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan may cover different drugs. However, note that if you need a nebulizer rather than an inhaler, you would typically be covered under Medicare Part B. How much does Breztri cost with Medicare? If you don't have insurance, a 5.9-gram (g) Breztri inhaler costs around $400, while a larger 10.7-g inhaler can cost about $700. Whether your Medicare drug plan covers a Breztri inhaler depends on its formulary, which is a list of covered medications that varies with each plan. If your plan's formulary doesn't include this inhaler, it might offer coverage for a different one instead. If your plan covers Breztri, the amount you need to pay depends on its tier within the formulary. Higher tiers usually mean a higher cost. However, starting in 2025, you'll pay no more than $2,000 annually out of pocket for drugs through Medicare plans. Remember, Part D and MAPD plans are managed by private insurance companies, meaning your deductibles, premiums, and copays will depend on your plan. In 2025, the national base beneficiary premium for Part D is $36.78, and according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans is about $17. If you use a nebulizer and have coverage under Part B, you'll pay 20% of the cost after meeting your annual deductible of $257, as long as you keep up with your monthly premium of $185. How can I get cheaper Breztri with Medicare? Typically, you can get cheaper drugs through your Medicare plan by getting a prescription for a generic version. These tend to feature in lower formulary tiers, making them more affordable. There's no generic version of Breztri, but other medications may be just as effective and more budget-friendly. Your Medicare plan may cover these. In fact, since Breztri can be expensive, your plan might require prior authorization before they approve coverage. This could involve step therapy, where you're asked to try a different, equally effective but cheaper medication first. In addition, AstraZeneca, the company that produces Breztri, offers a cost assistance program that may make this drug more affordable for Medicare enrollees. You'll need to visit the manufacturer's website to check your eligibility. Takeaway Breztri is a brand-name inhaler designed for long-term management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. Although Medicare drug plans may cover COPD inhalers like Breztri, coverage is not uniformly required. This means your coverage and cost depend on the specific medication and your specific plan. Generally, Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan provides drug coverage for Medicare, including for covered inhalers. However, if you need to use the drug with a nebulizer, your coverage would fall under Part B.
Medscape
13-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
MHRA Approves First Low-Carbon COPD Inhaler for UK Patients
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the world's first low-carbon version of a triple combination inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The new formulation of Trixeo Aerosphere replaces the traditional propellant, HFA-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), with HFO-1234ze(E) (trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene), a fluorinated gas with near-zero global warming potential. The MHRA said the new propellant is 'safe and effective'. New Propellant Slashes Emissions Pressurised metered-dose inhalers account for 70% of all inhaled medicine use in the UK. Their emissions make up around 3% of the NHS's total carbon footprint. According to the manufacturer AstraZeneca, the new propellant offers a 99.9% reduction in global warming potential compared with the original version. This brings it in line with dry powder inhalers which do not require propellants. Preclinical studies funded by AstraZeneca found that HFO-1234ze was not genotoxic and had no effects on male or female reproduction. Active Ingredients Unchanged The new propellant is used solely for drug delivery and does not alter the active ingredients of Trixeo Aerosphere. The inhaler contains a fixed triple therapy of: It is indicated for adults with moderate to severe COPD who are not adequately controlled with dual therapy. The recommended use is two puffs twice daily, as a long-term maintenance treatment to improve COPD symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough, and to prevent exacerbations. Julian Beach, interim executive director for healthcare quality and access at the MHRA, said in a press release that inhalers are 'a cornerstone of COPD treatment' but that their propellants contribute to emissions. Beach said that the approval supported the continued availability of a widely used COPD treatment "while enabling a transition to inhalers with a lower carbon footprint, without compromising on safety, quality, or clinical benefit". COPD Burden in the UK The MHRA estimates that 1.2 million people in the UK are living with COPD. It is the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions. According to the NHS, most of those affected are middle aged or older smokers. Side Effects and Availability Common side effects of Trixeo Aerosphere include oral candidiasis, anxiety, sleep disturbances, nausea, headache, cough, muscle cramps, palpitations, and hyperglycaemia. Pneumonia has been reported in 4.6% of users and urinary tract infections in 2.7%. Patients and healthcare professionals are encouraged to report adverse reactions through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. The new formulation of Trixeo Aerosphere is expected to be available in the UK in the second half of 2025. The current version will remain on the market until then. The patient information leaflet and summary of product characteristics will be updated ahead of the launch.
