Buprenorphine — Medicare Part D spending
Multiple manufacturers (6) · Rank #343 by total Part D spend · CMS data year 2023
Medicare Part D spent $119,900,450 on Buprenorphine in 2023, the #343 drug by total Part D spending out of 3,598 drugs. That worked out to about $80.07 per dosage unit, $320 per claim and $1,601 per beneficiary, across 374,151 claims for 74,893 beneficiaries. Average spending per dosage unit fell -2.3% from 2022. These are aggregate Medicare program figures (gross drug cost), not the price you pay.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (data year 2023). Data as of June 2026.
Buprenorphine spending at a glance (2023)
| Metric | Buprenorphine |
|---|---|
| Total Part D spending (2023) | $119,900,450 |
| Total spending (2022) | $102,881,997 |
| Year-over-year change in total spending | +16.5% |
| Average spending per dosage unit (2023) | $80.07 |
| Change in spend per dosage unit (YoY) | -2.3% |
| Avg annual change per dosage unit (2019-2023 CAGR) | -2.3% |
| Average spending per claim (2023) | $320 |
| Average spending per beneficiary (2023) | $1,601 |
| Total claims (2023) | 374,151 |
| Beneficiaries (2023) | 74,893 |
| Total dosage units (2023) | 1,493,627 |
| Manufacturer(s) | Multiple manufacturers (6) |
| National rank by total spend (of 3,598 drugs) | #343 |
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (data year 2023). Data as of June 2026.
2022 vs 2023
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total spending | $102,881,997 | $119,900,450 | +16.5% |
| Avg spend per dosage unit | $81.95 | $80.07 | -2.3% |
| Avg spend per claim | $329 | $320 | — |
| Avg spend per beneficiary | $1,635 | $1,601 | — |
| Total claims | 313,036 | 374,151 | — |
| Beneficiaries | 62,909 | 74,893 | — |
How Buprenorphine compares with nearby drugs
Drugs with total Part D spending closest to Buprenorphine:
| Drug (rank) | Total spend 2023 | Per dosage unit | Per-unit YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine (this drug, #343) | $119,900,450 | $80.07 | -2.3% |
| Valacyclovir (Valacyclovir HCl) (#341) | $121,564,610 | $1.04 | -12.4% |
| Divalproex Sodium ER (Divalproex Sodium) (#342) | $120,375,972 | $0.93 | -19.4% |
| Donepezil HCl (#344) | $119,677,286 | $0.32 | +2.6% |
| Trulance (Plecanatide) (#345) | $119,272,260 | $18.72 | +7.4% |
| Idhifa (Enasidenib Mesylate) (#346) | $118,905,343 | $1,086.10 | +7.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Medicare Part D spend on Buprenorphine?
Medicare Part D spent $119,900,450 on Buprenorphine in 2023 (the latest CMS data year), across 374,151 claims for 74,893 beneficiaries. That ranks #343 of 3,598 drugs by total Part D spending. This is gross drug cost (Medicare, plan and beneficiary payments combined), not the price you personally pay.
What is the average spending per dosage unit for Buprenorphine?
In 2023, the weighted average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit for Buprenorphine was $80.07. Compared with 2022 it fell -2.3%. A "dosage unit" is one pill, tablet, milliliter or other billing unit, so this is not the price of a prescription.
Who makes Buprenorphine?
CMS attributes Buprenorphine to Multiple manufacturers (6) in the 2023 Part D spending file. Average spending per claim was $320 and per beneficiary $1,601.
Is the Buprenorphine figure the price I pay?
No. These are aggregate Medicare Part D program figures (total gross drug cost and averages across all claims), published by CMS for transparency. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan, formulary, deductible and coverage phase. Always check your plan and talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
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Source & what this means
Figures are from the CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug dataset (data year 2023, US public domain). "Total spending" is the gross drug cost — Medicare, plan and beneficiary payments combined — for Part D claims; it is not a list price, a negotiated price, or what any individual pays. Spending per dosage unit is volume-weighted across formulations. This is general public-spending information, not medical or pricing advice. Your own cost depends on your plan, deductible and coverage phase — verify with your Part D plan and a pharmacist. Data as of June 2026. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20