What is the difference between active and discontinued?

Active shortage means the drug is currently in supply constraint but the manufacturer expects to resume production. The shortage database publishes an estimated recovery date for active shortages, and plans typically maintain coverage with alternative-product carveouts during the active window.

Discontinued means the manufacturer has permanently stopped producing the drug. There is no recovery date — production will not resume. For plans, discontinued status is functionally a permanent member-disruption event requiring formulary substitution rather than a temporary workaround.

Discontinuation is more common than most plan sponsors realize. Of the 3,186 Part D-relevant drugs RxFinder tracks, 146 are currently in discontinued status — meaning the molecule still appears in CMS NADAC and historical Part D utilization but is no longer manufactured. Plans dispensing these molecules are typically working through remaining wholesaler inventory.

The active vs discontinued distinction matters most for high-volume molecules: a discontinuation of a 1M-script/year drug requires immediate P&T action; a discontinuation of a 1K-script/year drug can usually be absorbed by routine formulary review.