PRESCRIPTION DRUG INFORMATION

Health care premiums continue to escalate and one of the contributing factors is the cost of prescription drugs. Here is a chart that shows the top 25 drugs prescribed within the Premera plans for the time period January 2003 through December 2003. They are ranked by total cost to the Premera plans. The Prescription column lists the name of the drug. The Drug Therapy Class column lists the drug group. The Total Cost column lists the cost for that drug for this time period. The No. of Prescriptions column lists the actual number of prescriptions filled during this periods. The Cost per Rx column lists the cost to the plan for one 30 day supply.

Please review this list and ask your physician or pharmacist if a substitution is appropriate. By utilizing the most appropriate prescription, you will be saving yourself (if a generic is available) and the plan money, which will ultimately help keep premiums down. If a generic drug is available, you will pay a lower co-payment. Generic drugs are usually sold under a manufacturer’s trade name and generally cost less because they are created without the development, advertising and sales expenses of brand-name drugs. We encourage you to use a generic drug whenever one is available. When your physician prescribes a drug, ask your doctor to indicate “substitution permitted” on your prescription. Then ask your pharmacist to use a generic drug to fill the prescription.

Please click here to review a list of drugs and determine if a generic drug, or cost effective name brand drug is available for the prescriptions you are currently taking. Once again by using the most cost effective alternative, you will be doing your part to keep health care premiums down.

Did you know? You can get prescriptions by mail!
The Mail Service Prescription Drug Program is an expansion of your current prescription drug benefit program. It is ideal for people who take prescription medication on an ongoing basis. You can now enjoy several important advantages:

• Immediate savings: When you order by mail you can get up to a 90-day supply for one low copayment.
• No claim forms to file.
• No waiting for reimbursement
• Convenience: You save time by simply mailing your prescriptions to Merck-Medco Rx Services. Merck-Medco will send your prescription to your home via U.S. Mail, postage paid.
• Security of receiving larger quantities of medication at one time.
• Toll-free customer service number: 1-800-716-3215

How can you use this program?
Simple! Get a mail service prescription drug program form from the payroll/benefits office or from your school secretary. In addition, if you are currently taking a maintenance drug, we would like to encourage you to use the Mail Order program.