Table 3:

Cost implications of different policy scenarios, 2018–2020*

Cost implicationsNo. patients affected (2018)†Savings 2018, $Savings 2019, $Savings 2020, $Total 3-year savings, $% Reduction costs
Etanercept and infliximab only
 Everyone switches to currently available biosimilar720975 711 82979 753 21183 124 819238 589 858−25.8
 Only new users required to use currently available biosimilar7576 386 59511 810 25716 039 61134 236 463−3.7
Including adalimumab biosimilar†
Everyone switches to biosimilar (adalimumab @ 60% innovator cost)12 928112 774 144122 160 470130 684 224365 618 838−39.5
Only new users are required to use biosimilar (adalimumab @ 60% innovator cost)244314 456 00728 967 20442 164 84485 588 055−9.3
New cost thresholds for all biologics (etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab)†
 Everyone switches to biosimilar (all biologics @ 50% innovator cost)12 928133 002 041143 605 795153 276 509429 884 345−46.5
 Only new users are required to use biosimilar (all biologics @ 50% innovator cost)244317 273 89134 758 62050 939 083102 971 594−11.1
 Everyone switches to biosimilar (all biologics @ 25% innovator cost)12 928199 861 495215 784 478230 233 627645 879 599−69.8
 Only new users are required to use biosimilar (all biologics @ 25% innovator cost)244325 965 10452 250 28976 614 092154 829 485−16.7
Etanercept, infliximab and insulin glargine†
Everyone switches to currently available biosimilar115 89594 857 34796 465 50597 410 407288 733 259−25.3
Only new users required to use currently available biosimilar23 6808 541 77915 386 45821 413 35545 341 592−4.0

  • ↵* Represents approximate numbers of people affected based on prevalence of new use of innovators or use of only innovators over the year.

  • ↵† Secondary analysis.