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Speaking Out

Caremark Costs

The University Community should be aware of a bizarre and counter intuitive regulation concerning our prescription drug coverage. One actually loses money if a 1 month supply of a generic prescription is ordered directly from Caremark, for eventual mail delivery. We have been led to believe that this is a money-saving alternative to using our neighborhood participating pharmacy, yet a one-month supply of a generic drug ordered from Caremark had a co-pay to me of  $10, and took 11 days to arrive. The same prescription would have cost $5,  and would be available immediately, from my local pharmacy. This analysis was confirmed to me by Caremark.

The bottom line to all of us: Do not--in the interests of savings and speed--use Caremark's Mail Service for a month's [or shorter] need for generic prescription drugs!

--David S. McDevitt, Professor of Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine

Response

The University of Pennsylvania's prescription drug program utilizes Caremark as  the administrator.  Caremark provides coverage for prescriptions obtained at local participating retail pharmacies and through a Caremark mail order  service.

Communications from the Division of Human Resources about prescription  coverage, including our letter sent to all Caremark participants in September  2002, explain that the mail order option is intended to provide convenience and cost savings for long-term maintenance medications. For generic prescription drugs, the cost savings are achieved because a 90-day supply is available for a $10 minimum co-pay. This same supply would cost $15 at a retail pharmacy. (More savings apply to brand name drugs with no generic equivalents). In addition, the employee would have to go to the pharmacy three times to receive  the same supply because there is a 34-day maximum on the amount of medication filled each time.

We have never recommended that employees use Caremark's mail order service for short-term (one month or less) prescriptions. There would be no cost savings because the $10 minimum will apply. The mail order service was not intended for short-term prescriptions, as these medications are usually needed immediately. Employees should continue to fill short-term prescriptions at their local participating retail pharmacy.

--Division of Human Resources

 

Speaking Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University issues will be accepted by Thursday at noon for the following Tuesday's issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Advance notice of intention to submit is appreciated. --Eds.