Prescription prices, in plain language
What is NADAC?
If you have ever wondered why a generic that “costs pennies” still rings up at $40 with insurance, NADAC is the missing number. NADAC means National Average Drug Acquisition Cost. It is a public CMS Medicaid survey of what retail pharmacies pay wholesalers, on average, for a given drug. You can read the file on data.medicaid.gov.
NADAC is not what you pay. It is closer to the pharmacy’s invoice. It is not a coupon, not a GoodRx price, and not a copay. Medicaid uses it to help decide how much to reimburse pharmacies. For you, it is a floor: if pharmacies buy a 90-day generic for a few dollars, a $47 copay is worth questioning before they run the claim.
The survey updates weekly. Brand specialty drugs are the exception people get wrong. For Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, NADAC is still an acquisition number. The cash you are quoted is list price or a manufacturer card — not NADAC.
Use NADAC to decide whether to ask. At the counter, the only price that matters is the register. If cash is not actually lower than your copay, use insurance. Next: when paying cash beats a copay and Cost Plus vs a chain pharmacy.
FAQ
Is NADAC the price I pay at the pharmacy?
No. It is the average amount pharmacies pay to acquire the drug, not retail cash and not a copay.
Who publishes NADAC?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The weekly file is public on data.medicaid.gov.
Does NADAC work for Ozempic or Wegovy?
Not as a patient price. For those brands, cash is list or a manufacturer program, not the NADAC number.