Trends in Medicare Coverage of Overactive Bladder Medications in the United States

Strong evidence demonstrates long-term cognitive decline associated with anticholinergics. While prevalent among older populations, medical management of overactive bladder (OAB) is dictated by insurance coverage rather than medical provider and patient preferences.

The aim of this study was to assess Medicare insurance plan coverage for select OAB medications and evaluate coverage of preferred medications to medications with a greater risk of cognitive dysfunction.

This cross-sectional study analyzed formularies and coverage tiers across 6 U.S. insurers for the following OAB medications: oxybutynin instant-release (IR) 5 mg, oxybutynin extended-release (ER) 5 mg, tolterodine IR 1 mg, tolterodine ER 2 mg, fesoterodine ER 4 mg, darifenacin 7.5 mg, solifenacin 5 mg, trospium IR 20 mg, trospium ER 60 mg, mirabegron 25 mg, and vibegron 75 mg. Coverage was compared between nonpreferred (oxybutynin, tolterodine, fesoterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin) and preferred medications (trospium, mirabegron, vibegron). Coverage scores, a weighted distribution based on coverage tier frequency relative to the number of plans investigated, were generated with a lower score indicating better coverage (range, 0.2-1.0).

One thousand six hundred nineteen insurance plans representing an estimated 47% of the market share were evaluated. Oxybutynin IR had the best coverage score across insurers (0.4), whereas trospium ER had the worst (0.89). Preferred medications had worse coverage versus nonpreferred medications ( P < 0.001). Centene had the best overall coverage and lowest initiation cost, whereas Aetna/CVS had the best coverage and initiation cost for preferred medications.

Beta-3 agonists had worse coverage across insurers nationwide. Current trends in Medicare coverage reveal a need for improved coverage of preferred OAB medications for an aging population already at risk of cognitive dysfunction.