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Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
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The 5th Annual Pharmacy Benefits Academy
An MBGH Learning Network educational curriculum
August 23-25
Rosemont, IL
Learn more
Health and Welfare Plan Management for Midsize Employers Conference
September 13-16
Las Vegas, NV
Learn more
2011 Wisconsin SHRM State Conference
October 12-14
Madison, WI
Learn more
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National CooperativeRx is a not-for-profit coalition founded and owned by plan sponsors to achieve higher value prescription benefits through volume purchasing, clinical solutions, actionable data and unparalleled customer service. For your sales and marketing needs, please contact us at 866-679-9479, extension 223
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To continue helping you with your plan design for 2012, this week we'll focus on consumer resources.
Outside of cost share shifting, increasing the use of generic medications is the most impactful way for plan sponsors to lower drug costs. For each 1% increase in Generic Dispensing Rate, plan sponsors are estimated to save 1% up toward 2.5% of their overall gross costs. While a sound plan design is key and foundational to promote this, empowering your members with tools and resources to identify generic alternatives also helps. Some of these tools and resources are highlighted below. You are encouraged to share these with your employees and plan participants.
- Plan participants with active eligibility and a CVS Caremark drug card have a variety of online tools and resources available at CVS Caremark. Participants can order prescriptions, access plan and benefits information, find savings opportunities such as generic equivalents and generic alternatives to many brand name drugs as well as mail service, learn about specific medications, look up drug interactions and more.
- For those without a CVS Caremark drug card, AARP provides an online drug savings tool accessible to the general public to help identify generic alternatives for brand drugs in various therapeutic classes. Consumer Reports also serves as an excellent resource to the general public to identify best buy generics in many common drug classes.
To watch our webinar on Plan Design or to download the PowerPoint, visit our homepage.
If you have any trouble using these sites, please don't hesitate to contact your WisconsinRx|National CooperativeRx® representative.
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WebMD. Can sending motivational text messages to people who want to quit smoking help them reach their goal? A study that took place in the UK reports that it makes quitters twice as successful. (Broyd, 6/30) Full story
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USA Today. In a recent study, people who experienced chronic lower back pain found more relief and better mobility through massage than through usual medical care. We spend $50B on lower back pain each year in the United States. (Salamon, 7/6) Full story
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American Medical News. The American Medical Association (AMA) recently discovered that 1 in 5 insurance claims are mishandled. These errors cost the United States $17B per year. (Berry, 7/4) Full story
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CVS Caremark. The cost of providing preventative care to people who are chronically ill could cost significantly less than previously estimated due to the availability of generic medication, according to a study performed by Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark. (7/7) Full article
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CNN Health. We've heard over and over again that vaccines don't cause autism, but a new study now suggests that women who use antidepressants may double the risk of their child being diagnosed with autism or a similar disorder. (Harding, 7/6) Full story
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Politico. PhRMA agreed to allow $80B in savings over the next 10 years during the health care reform debate in agreement that Medicare wouldn't use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. With the current talk about the debt ceiling, however, congress may bring that discussion back to life. (Nather, 7/4) Full story
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