Why Cost Matters for Jornay PM Adherence

You prescribed Jornay PM because it's the right clinical choice — evening dosing, morning-onset coverage, methylphenidate in a unique delivery system. But your patient may never fill the prescription if they can't afford it. Jornay PM has no generic equivalent, won't until at least 2032, and carries a cash price of $340 to $620 per month. For a medication that requires monthly refills with no automatic renewals (Schedule II), cost friction compounds quickly.

This guide gives you practical tools to help your patients access Jornay PM at a price they can sustain — and alternatives to consider when the numbers just don't work.

What Your Patients Are Actually Paying

The cost of Jornay PM varies widely depending on coverage:

• Cash price (no insurance): $340-$620/month for 30 capsules, depending on strength and pharmacy.
• Commercial insurance with coverage: Typically requires prior authorization and often step therapy (patient must trial cheaper methylphenidate formulations first). Even with approval, copays can run $75-$200/month depending on the plan's specialty tier.
• Medicare: Most Medicare Part D plans do not cover Jornay PM, or place it on the highest cost-sharing tier. The manufacturer savings card is not valid for Medicare patients.
• Medicaid: Coverage varies by state. Many Medicaid programs require prior authorization and may deny based on availability of cheaper alternatives.

The bottom line: even insured patients often face significant out-of-pocket costs, and uninsured patients are looking at $4,000-$7,400 per year.

Manufacturer Savings Programs

Collegium Copay Savings Card

Collegium Pharmaceutical (which acquired Jornay PM from Ironshore Therapeutics) offers a copay savings card through jornaypm.com/savings:

• Eligible patients: Commercially insured patients (not government insurance)
• Savings: Up to $375 off per fill, with eligible patients potentially paying as little as $75/month
• Enrollment: Patients can enroll online or your office can help them activate the card
• Exclusions: Not valid for Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or other government-funded insurance programs

Provider tip: Keep copay card information in your prescribing workflow. Many patients don't know these programs exist until their pharmacist mentions it — or until sticker shock causes them to abandon the prescription at the counter. Proactively handing them the savings card at the time of prescribing dramatically improves fill rates.

Patient Assistance Program (PAP)

For uninsured or underinsured patients who can't afford Jornay PM even with discount programs:

• Collegium Pharmaceutical offers patient assistance for eligible patients. Income thresholds and application requirements apply.
• NeedyMeds (needymeds.org) maintains an updated database of assistance programs for Jornay PM.
• RxAssist (rxassist.org) is another comprehensive resource for patient assistance programs.

These programs typically provide medication at no cost for qualifying patients, but the application process can take 2-4 weeks. Plan for a bridge supply if your patient is starting treatment.

Coupon and Discount Card Programs

For patients without adequate insurance coverage, third-party discount programs can provide meaningful savings:

• GoodRx — Has partnered with InsideRx and Ironshore to offer discounted pricing on Jornay PM. Prices vary by pharmacy but can be significantly below the full cash price.
• SingleCare, RxSaver, BuzzRx — These coupon aggregators sometimes offer competitive pricing on brand-name medications. Have your patient compare prices across platforms.
• Manufacturer + coupon stacking: In some cases, patients with commercial insurance can use both their insurance and the manufacturer copay card. They generally cannot stack third-party coupons with the manufacturer card.

Provider tip: Encourage patients to price-shop between pharmacies. There can be a $100+ difference in Jornay PM pricing between chain pharmacies and independent or specialty pharmacies in the same area. Medfinder for Providers can help your team identify pharmacies that stock Jornay PM and compare availability.

Generic Alternatives and Therapeutic Substitution

When cost is a dealbreaker, therapeutic substitution to a more affordable medication may be the practical choice. No generic Jornay PM exists, but several alternatives contain the same active ingredient or treat the same condition:

Methylphenidate-Based Alternatives

• Concerta (methylphenidate ER) — Morning-dosed, widely available as generic, typically under $50/month with a coupon. The most direct clinical alternative, though it lacks Jornay PM's morning-onset advantage.
• Generic methylphenidate ER — Multiple formulations available at very low cost. Consider if the patient was previously stable on methylphenidate.
• Azstarys (serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate) — Newer methylphenidate prodrug combination, morning dosing. Still brand-only and relatively expensive, but may be covered by plans that don't cover Jornay PM.

Amphetamine-Based Alternatives

• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) — Now available as generic lisdexamfetamine. Long-acting, smooth onset, 12-14 hours of coverage. Often under $50/month as generic.
• Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts ER) — Widely available as generic. Affordable and well-established, though a different stimulant class.

When switching from Jornay PM to a morning-dosed alternative, counsel patients that they'll lose the immediate morning coverage and will need to build in time for their medication to take effect after waking. For a complete comparison, see: Alternatives to Jornay PM.

Building Cost Conversations into Your Workflow

Cost shouldn't be an afterthought. Here are practical ways to address it proactively:

At the Point of Prescribing

• Check formulary status before sending the prescription. If the patient's plan doesn't cover Jornay PM, they'll find out at the pharmacy — and may not fill it.
• Provide the copay card at the visit. Don't assume the pharmacy will mention it.
• Discuss the realistic cost. "This medication may cost around $75/month with the savings card, or $340-$620 without coverage. Let's make sure you can access it before I prescribe it."
• Have a Plan B ready. If Jornay PM isn't affordable, know which alternative you'd switch to and discuss it upfront.

At Follow-Up Visits

• Ask about cost. Patients may not volunteer that they're rationing doses or skipping fills due to cost.
• Monitor for non-adherence. If a patient who was doing well suddenly reports worsening symptoms, cost-driven non-adherence should be on your differential.
• Reassess annually. Insurance formularies change every year. A medication that was covered last year may not be covered this year.

Prior Authorization Support

Many plans require prior authorization for Jornay PM. To improve approval odds:

• Document the clinical rationale for evening dosing (e.g., morning routine difficulties, failed morning-dosed stimulants).
• Note any previously tried-and-failed alternatives (step therapy documentation).
• Include specific examples of functional impairment that morning-dosed medications don't address.
• Your office staff or a dedicated PA team can streamline this process — don't let PA requests sit in a queue.

Final Thoughts

Jornay PM is a clinically valuable medication for the right patient, but its cost can be a barrier to adherence. By proactively addressing cost — providing savings cards, exploring patient assistance, and having affordable alternatives ready — you can help ensure your patients actually fill and continue the treatment you've prescribed.

For pharmacy-level stock information to share with patients, visit Medfinder for Providers. For patient-facing savings resources, direct them to our guide: How to Save Money on Jornay PM.