Blue Cross of California Expands Successful GenericSelect Program Offering Rx at a $0 Co-Pay for up to Four Months When Beginning a New Drug Therapy.THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , Calif. -- Blue Cross of California (Blue Cross) today announced the expansion of its generic alternative program, GenericSelect(SM). The GenericSelect(SM) program now offers commercial members a $0 co-payment or up to $10.00 off their co-pay(1) for GenericSelect drugs on their first retail prescription and a $0 co-pay for the first mail order prescription filled by PrecisionRx, when they begin a new drug therapy with a GenericSelect(SM)drug. Depending on the member's pharmacy benefit design, when members combine their first retail prescription with the mail order option, they receive up to a four-month supply at a $0 co-pay when beginning a new drug therapy with a GenericSelect(SM)drug. Originally launched in December of 2002, Blue Cross designed GenericSelect(SM) to emphasize highly respected and widely used generic drugs generic drug, a drug sold or prescribed under the nonproprietary name of its active ingredients or under a generally descriptive name rather than under a brand or trade name. that are appropriate substitutes for many brand name drugs within a therapeutic class, not just the generic version of the equivalent brand name. The generic alternative within each class can provide the member with a less costly option within that same class, when deemed appropriate by the prescribing physician. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Dr. Robert Seidman, Blue Cross of California's chief pharmacy officer, "Our GenericSelect(SM) program has helped to control and reduce escalating out-of-pocket prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, costs for our members, while fostering communication between members and their physicians. GenericSelect(SM) successfully educates our members and reminds our physicians about the value of these important generics," said Dr. Seidman. "By offering up to four months of prescription GenericSelect(SM) drugs at a $0 or discounted co-pay, which are time tested and clinically proven, we're providing an even greater value added Value Added The enhancement a company gives its product or service before offering the product to customers. Notes: This can either increase the products price or value. service while helping to maintain the affordability of the pharmacy benefit for our members." GenericSelect(SM) doesn't hinder physician authority or prescribing patterns and in many cases has helped to facilitate discussions between members and their physicians about the value of generic drugs during regular office visits. If the therapeutic outcome is the same, the member is made aware of the possible cost savings to them. WellPoint has been successful in increasing total generic utilization in the categories covered under the GenericSelect(SM) program by six percent in the past year alone. GenericSelect(SM) complements the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. ) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. Association's efforts to educate consumers about using generic drug alternatives. GenericSelect(SM) drugs are chosen because they continue to provide significant medical value and are considered by most pharmacists This is a list of notable pharmacists.
Brand Name Drugs
Equivalent Commonly
GenericSelect Drug Brand Other Brands Used For
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Fluoxetine(a) Prozac Celexa, Lexapro(a), Depression
Paxil CR(a),
Zoloft(a)
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Lovastatin(a) Mevacor Crestor, Lescol, High
Lipitor(a), Cholesterol
Pravachol(a),
Zocor
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Ranitidine Tablets(a) Zantac AcipHex(a), Acid
Tablets Nexium, Reflux
Prevacid(a),
Protonix,
Prilosec
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Lisinopril(a) Zestril, Avapro, Hypertension
Prinivil Atacand, Benicar,
--------------------- -------------- Cozaar(a), Diovan(a),
Atenolol(a) Tenormin Micardis, Norvasc(a),
--------------------- -------------- Teveten
Metoprolol(a) Lopressor
--------------------- --------------
Chlorthalidone Hygroton
--------------------- --------------
Hydrochlorothiazide(a) Oretic
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Metformin(a) Glucophage Actos(a), Diabetes
--------------------- -------------- Avandia(a)
Glyburide(a) Micronase,
Diabeta
--------------------- --------------
Glipizide(a) Glucotrol
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
Ibuprofen(a) Motrin Bextra, Celebrex, Arthritis
--------------------- -------------- Vioxx Pain
Naproxen(a) Naprosyn
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- ------------
(a) Formulary drug
Many of Blue Cross' network physicians already support the GenericSelect(SM) concept and currently write more than half of their prescriptions for generics. When a physician considers it medically appropriate for a member to receive one (or more) of the GenericSelect(SM) medications, the physician will prescribe the generic medication as usual. Eligible members need only present his or her insurance ID card and first prescription for a GenericSelect(SM) drug at a participating retail pharmacy to receive their first prescription at a $0 or discounted co-pay. To order the refill refill noun A second allotment of a prescription agent obtained from a pharmacy, which is allowed by the original prescription verb Pharmacology To obtain more of a particular drug, after the initially prescribed amount of the agent has been used or at a $0 co-pay, members should contact PrecisionRx at (866) 274-6825 to enroll or visit the PrecisionRx website at www.precisionrx.com. Blue Cross of California and its California affiliates, with more than 7.5 million medical members, is an operating subsidiary An operating subsidiary is a business term frequently used within the United States railroad industry. In the case of a railroad, it refers to a company that is a subsidiary but operates with its own identity and rolling stock. of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., the nation's second largest publicly traded health care company. WellPoint serves the health care needs of 15.5 million medical members and 46.2 million specialty members nationally. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO PPO abbr. preferred provider organization PPO Managed care Preferred provider organization, see there Infectious disease Pleuropneumonia-like organism, see there , POS (1) See point of sale and packet over SONET. (2) "Parent over shoulder." See digispeak. POS - point of sale and hybrid products, HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management A Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) is a third party administrator of prescription drug programs. They are primarily responsible for processing and paying prescription drug claims. , dental, utilization management Utilization management is the evaluation of the appropriateness, medical need and efficiency of health care services procedures and facilities according to established criteria or guidelines and under the provisions of an applicable health benefits plan. , vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts flexible spending account, n an employee reimbursement account primarily funded with employee-designated salary reductions. Funds are reimbursed to the employee for health care (medical and/or dental), dependent care, and/or legal expenses and are , COBRA cobra, name for African and Asian snakes of the family Elapidae that are equipped with inflatable neck hoods. The family also includes the African mambas, the Asian kraits, the New World coral snakes and a large number of Australian snakes. administration, and Medicare supplements. Visit Blue Cross of California, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association, on the web at www.bluecrossca.com. (1) Large Group members receive a $0 co-pay for this program and Individual and Small Group members receive a discount of up to $10.00 off their retail co-pay. Members should check their pharmacy benefit coverage to determine co-pay waiver or discount. |
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