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Generic
Drugs May Save You Money | Brand
vs. Generic Costs | Why
Brand Name Drugs are Expensive | Facts
About Generics | What
CareFirst is Doing to Control Drug Costs
What CareFirst is Doing to Control Drug Costs
Helping you save money on drug costs is part of CareFirst's committment to
our community. Here are some of things we are doing that help you directly,
or indirectly, save money on your drug costs:
Formulary management program - Combining the most cost effective drug
regimens with best practices in medical management
- Community physicians and pharmacists, together with CareFirst's medical
staff, meet regularly to review the prescription drugs currently available
to members. This group is called the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee.
- The P&T Committee, which meets six times a year, is responsible
for developing and maintaining the CareFirst's preferred drug list and setting
policy on how drugs are covered.
Medications compliance - Helping to avoid medical complications
- Mail Order refill reminders help members ensure their prescriptions
are refilled.
Utilization Management - Helping ensure that appropriate drugs are used
- Step therapy guidelines promote using most clinically and cost effective
medications be used before trying equally effective, but more costly medications
- Quantity versus time monitoring to help ensure that potentially dangerous
drugs are not being over-used.
- Prior authorizations help ensure the appropriate use of high cost
medications
E-prescribing - Improving safety and reducing errors
- Physicians electronically transmit a prescription to the patient's pharmacy,
thus reducing errors at the pharmacy.
- Electronic access to the patient's medication history and allergies alerts
doctors to dangerous drug-drug interactions.
Specialty Rx management -- oversees complex medical conditions to help
ensure appropriate drug treatments followed.
- Personalized care to patients along with support services from their providers
- Monthly calls from their care coordinator to ensure patients are taking
medications and following their treatment plans
- 24/7 access to the nurse/pharmacist hotline
- Educational materials
- Home delivery of medications
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