Drug Pricing Datasets
The U.S. drug pricing landscape includes multiple benchmarks — NADAC, ASP, AWP, WAC, and MAC — each measuring something different about what drugs cost. Understanding which dataset to use, and when, is critical for accurate pharmacy analytics, reimbursement modeling, and contract benchmarking.
Public datasets
NADAC, ASP
Paid datasets
AWP, WAC
Most frequent
NADAC (weekly)
Level
NDC / HCPCS
Five Benchmarks Compared
Each benchmark measures a different point in the drug supply chain. NADAC and ASP are publicly available from CMS. AWP and WAC require paid subscriptions. MAC varies by PBM.
Basis: Voluntary pharmacy invoice surveys
Best for: Pharmacy acquisition cost benchmarking, Medicaid reimbursement analysis
Learn more →Basis: Manufacturer-reported net selling price after rebates and discounts
Best for: Medicare Part B physician-administered drug reimbursement
Basis: Manufacturer-set list price — no audit or survey requirement
Best for: Legacy contract pricing, co-pay tier calculations
Learn more →Basis: Manufacturer list price to wholesalers, before discounts
Best for: Contract negotiation starting point, 340B ceiling price calculation
Basis: PBM or state-set reimbursement ceiling for multi-source generics
Best for: Generic reimbursement rate caps
Which Benchmark Answers Which Question?
What did pharmacies actually pay for this drug?
Based on real invoice data from pharmacy surveys. Most transparent benchmark.
What does Medicare reimburse for physician-administered drugs?
CMS sets Part B reimbursement at ASP plus a percentage add-on.
What is the manufacturer's list price?
The wholesale acquisition cost before any discounts, rebates, or chargebacks.
What is the maximum a PBM will reimburse for a generic?
PBMs and state Medicaid programs set ceiling prices for multi-source generics.
What benchmark do legacy pharmacy contracts reference?
AWP minus a discount (e.g., AWP-15%) is still common in older contracts.
NADAC vs. ASP — Coverage Differences
NADAC and ASP are both free CMS datasets, but they cover different drug channels with minimal overlap. NADAC covers pharmacy-dispensed drugs (oral tablets, capsules, inhalers). ASP covers physician-administered drugs (infusions, injections). A complete pricing picture requires both.
NADAC coverage
Pharmacy-dispensed drugs
Oral solids, topicals, inhalers, self-injectable pens — drugs dispensed at retail or mail-order pharmacies. ~27,000 NDCs with weekly pricing updates.
ASP coverage
Physician-administered drugs
IV infusions, injections, and specialty biologics administered in physician offices or hospital outpatient settings under Medicare Part B. ~700 HCPCS codes with quarterly updates.
Sample Pricing Data
A combined view across NADAC and ASP showing how different drug types appear in each dataset. Oral drugs appear in NADAC; physician-administered drugs appear in ASP; a few specialty drugs appear in both.
| Drug | NADAC / unit | ASP / unit |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin 10 MG Tablet | $0.041 | — |
| Lisinopril 10 MG Tablet | $0.020 | — |
| Metformin 500 MG Tablet | $0.022 | — |
| Eliquis 5 MG Tablet | $17.50 | — |
| Keytruda 100 MG/4 ML Vial | — | $5,948 |
| Avastin 400 MG/16 ML Vial | — | $3,226 |
| Lupron Depot 7.5 MG Kit | — | $1,640 |
| Humira 40 MG Pen | $6,922 | $6,451 |
Illustrative per-unit prices. “—” indicates the drug is not covered by that benchmark. Download a free sample.
How TwinFyRx handles drug pricing
TwinFyRx ingests both NADAC (weekly) and Medicare ASP (quarterly) into a unified data platform. All pricing data is keyed at the NDC level and joined to the full RxNorm drug hierarchy via the ndc_rxnorm crosswalk, enabling pricing analysis at any level — from individual package to ingredient roll-up.