HPR13 Medicare Part B Spending on Biologics Due to Inadequate Biosimilar Uptake

Abstract

Biologics represent a rapidly growing portion of Medicare drug spending. To lower prices, the United States (US) Congress created a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval pathway for biosimilars, which are versions of biologics that are made by competing manufacturers. However, biosimilar uptake has been slow after expiration of the market exclusivity on the original biologic. We sought to estimate Medicare Part B savings in 2020 had biologics with available biosimilars been reimbursed at comparable prices.