Three Ways to Spend Less on Prescription Drugs

With healthcare costs continuing to rise, everyone is looking for ways to spend less. Through the Prescription Drug Program under the Medical Plan, there are three ways you can save:

1. Use generic drugs instead of brand name drugs whenever possible. Why? Generic drugs are chemically identical to brand name drugs and meet the same FDA standards for safety, purity, and effectiveness. Yet they cost considerably less. That's because a generic can legally be produced in the U.S. if a patent has expired or the drug has never been patented.
   
   Next year, in most instances generic drugs will cost even less than they do now. That's because starting January 1, 2010, you will no longer pay a percentage of the drug's cost; instead, you will pay a flat rate. A 90-day order of a generic drug by mail will cost just $20; a 30-day order of a generic drug at your local pharmacy will cost just $8.
   
   The next time you need a drug prescribed, talk with your doctor about generics.
   
   
2. Give step therapy a chance. Under the Prescription Drug Program, certain similar, covered prescription drugs, such as blood pressure medications, are sequenced from least to most expensive and classified in steps. Members are asked to start treatment using a proven, cost-effective drug, usually a generic (Step One). If the generic fails to deliver the desired outcome, you then can take a formulary or non-formulary drug (Step Two), and it will be covered at the usual rate. This is step therapy.
   
   Rather than immediately using a brand name drug when proven alternatives are available, discuss step therapy with your doctor. Doing so can save you money while providing the treatment you need.
   
   
3. Use Express Scripts home delivery service for continuing, or maintenance, medications (for example, cholesterol medicine, thyroid medication, or birth control pills, among others). You may choose to fill continuing prescriptions at your local pharmacy, but you will pay more for the prescription, plus a surcharge, if you do. To save money, order a 90-day supply through Express Scripts mail-order service. Shipping is free, and the order can be delivered to your home or office.

How well the Prescription Drug Program benefits you depends largely on how well you understand and use it. Be a smart healthcare consumer: Make the best use of your prescription drug benefits and save money, too!

For more information:

• call the Board of Pensions at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN) or visit the Prescription Drug Program section of Pensions.org
• call Express Scripts at 800-344-3896 or go to express-scripts.com