National CooperativeRx 2011:  What's in Store

During the month of January, we will be featuring in this newsletter and on our website a look at the year ahead.  We want our members and stakeholders to know what they can expect from our cooperative and from the pharmaceutical industry in the coming months.  For example:

• Starting this week, our members will benefit from improved pricing terms resulting from our new contract we negotiated with CVS Caremark, finalized at the end of October.  Long-term savings for our plan will be significant, as the new contract includes annual pricing improvements in the years ahead.
• You should have received an email from Wayne Salverda, our on-staff pharmacist, regarding a new program called Pharmacy Advisor. We believe it will help health plans address certain costs associated with chronic disease, starting with diabetes.  The email to members and next week's Script will include additional details regarding this program that we are offering at no cost to our members.
• In 2011, WisconsinRx/National CooperativeRx will do more to encourage enrollees to make health-promoting and cost-saving decisions.  For example, we will soon send a mailing to our higher-risk members reminding them about the importance of receiving a flu vaccine. 
• In two weeks, we will feature information about an existing CVS Caremark service called "ExtraCare," which rewards enrollees for prescription purchases through CVS. The program is optional, but could save significant dollars for those that wish to participate.
• In 2011, the cooperative will do a better job explaining the benefits of membership in our coalition.  Each month in The Script, you can read our about a "Co-op Feature" that will detail aspects that makes us different from for-profit pharmacy benefit managers/consultants.
• We will help our members navigate the complexities of health reform, and advocate when we can for sensible changes that will reduce administrative burden and increase flexibility for employer plans to implement efficiencies such as value-based benefit design.
•  We will work throughout the year to meet the resolutions laid out in last week's Script, which includes growing the coalition, exceeding members' expectations and helping our plans implement cost-saving plan design and clinical solutions. 

As always, if you have recommendations for other initiatives we should pursue, you should not hesitate to contact us.  We would love to hear from you!

Health Affairs. A study conducted by CVS Caremark and CMS finds that medication adherence saves thousands of dollars each year in health costs for people with chronic conditions. Study

Wall Street Journal. An influential but now-discredited study that provoked fears around the world that childhood vaccinations caused autism was based largely on falsified data, according to an article and editorial published Wednesday in the British Medical Journal. (Winslow, 1/6) Full story

Wall Street Journal. How much would people pay out of pocket for predictive tests that would tell them their likelihood of getting a disease? A study examines the question. (Hobson, 1/6) Full story

PBS News Hour.  Republicans have taken control of the House with a vote to repeal health care reform at the top of their agenda. But any House repeal vote will likely be symbolic -- the repeal effort is unlikely to advance any further, and provisions of the law scheduled to go into effect this year will continue on course. Full Story

McClatchy. A government report indicates U.S. health care spending in 2009 grew at the slowest rate in 50 years, as the recession and high unemployment caused outlays for nearly all medical goods and services to slow or decline. (Pugh, 1/5) Full story