Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) quickly enter and exit the Medicare coverage gap when taking targeted oral anticancer medications, according to a study involving nearly 900 individuals.

Participants had CML and were starting on targeted oral therapy. Investigators looked at their out-of-pocket payments and gross drug costs. Among the results:

• 8 in every 10 patients had reached the catastrophic phase of their Medicare Part D benefit within a year of starting treatment.
• Most reached this point in less than a month.
• Patients without subsidies experienced a spike in out-of-pocket payments when starting treatment.
• Out-of-pocket costs for those with subsidies was significantly lower.
• Gross drug costs were similar between patients with and without subsidies.

The authors concluded that closing the gap will help patients in the initial months of treatment, but some financial burden will remain.