The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality releases statistical briefs with insights on healthcare cost and quality. The following is a list of the top five most costly prescription drugs by total expense prescribed to Medicare beneficiaries in 2010 as reported in AHRQ's Statistical Brief #411. Combined, these drugs accounted for 68.23 percent of Medicare prescription drug spending, totaling $63.4 billion.
1. Metabolic agents ($22.5 billion). These drugs accounted for nearly a quarter of all Medicare beneficiary prescription drug spending. On average, metabolic agents cost $98 dollars per prescription. Nearly 60 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had a prescription for a metabolic agent.
2. Cardiovascular agents ($14.6 billion). These drugs accounted for 15.7 percent of all Medicare beneficiary prescription drug spending. On average, cardiovascular agents cost $40 per prescription. About 71 percent of beneficiaries held a prescription for cardiovascular medication.
3. Central nervous system agents ($11.1 billion). These drugs accounted for 12 percent of Medicare beneficiary prescription drug spending. On average, a CNS drug prescription cost $80 dollars. Almost 43 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were prescribed CNS agents.
4. Respiratory agents ($7.8 billion). These drugs accounted for 8.4 percent of Medicare beneficiary prescription drug spending. An average respiratory agent prescription cost $139 dollars. Nearly 18 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had a prescription for a respiratory drug.
5. Gastrointestinal agents ($7.5 billion). These dugs accounted for 8.1 percent of Medicare beneficiary prescription drug spending. An average prescription for a gastrointestinal drug cost $111 dollars. Approximately 26 percent of beneficiaries had a prescription for a gastrointestinal agent.
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