A system for forming a drug-polymer coated stent includes means for applying a polymeric coating onto at least a portion of a stent framework, means for drying the applied polymeric coating on the stent framework and means for directing a jet of heated gas towards excess coating portions of the dried polymeric coating that extend into apertures of the stent framework. The system also includes means for reflowing the polymeric coating with the directed jet of heated gas to remove the excess coating portions from the apertures of the stent framework.