Utilization, Expenditure, and Price Trends of Nonbiologic and Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in the US Medicaid Programs: An Empirical Data Analysis of over Three Decades

Aims: To describe and analyze trends in the utilization, spending, and average per prescription price of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the US Medicaid population. Methods: Using the publicly available national outpatient Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data, a retrospective, descriptive trend analysis was conducted on DMARDs from 1991 to 2022. Annual prescription counts and reimbursement amounts were calculated for nonbiologic and biologic DMARDs. Average per prescription price and Market share competition were calculated and analyzed for DMARDs. Results: Medicaid utilization of nonbiologic peaked in 2021 with 884,000 while biologic DMARDs with 688,000 prescriptions. In 2022, biologic utilization took the lead and exceed nonbiologic with 1.5 million prescriptions. Over the last 32 years, biologics captured 94% of Medicaid expenditures toward DMARDs, of which, 56% was toward adalimumab alone. On the other hand, spending on conventional DMARDs accounted for 33% while 67% accounted toward Janus Kinase Inhibitors. Biologic DMARDs average prices increased from around $800 to around $6000. However, the average adalimumab price increased 12-fold from around $1200 in 2003 to over $15,000 in 2021. Medicaid spending toward adalimumab increased by 179%. Conclusions: The substantial increase of DMARDs utilization and expenditure contributed significant burden to Medicaid budget. Introducing biosimilars into the market in the past few years is eroding the market share for several established biologics. Further cost-containment policies may be necessary for costly DMARD pharmacotherapy.