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News & Announcements about health insurance in California




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Health Net To Drop Walgreens From Pharmacy Network

July 29, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Members who have used a Walgreens pharmacy at any time in the past 12 months will receive a letter about the change 60 days in advance of the end of the year if they have an individual and family plan. Group members will receive the letter 60 days in advance of their employer’s renewal date. The first letters mail late July to members of groups renewing October 1.

Filed Under: Health Net Tagged With: Drugs, Health Net, Pharmacy, Walgreens

Anthem Blue Cross List of Tier 1 and 2 Pharmacies

June 21, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

To make it easier than ever to find local level 1 pharmacies for your clients, refer to this Rx Choice Tiered Pharmacy list for California. A circle with either a 1 or a 2 next to each pharmacy indicates whether it’s a level 1 or a level 2.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, Drugs, Pharmacy, Prescriptions

Online Drug Price Checker Tool From Sharp Health Plan

April 18, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Sharp, Health Plan, Drugs, Prescription, Prices, Pharmacies, Brand, Generic

Sharp Health Plan has added an online drug price checker tool. The online tool is powered by PilotRx. Prices quoted are specific to the rates negotiated by MedImpact on Sharp Health Plan’s behalf. For more detailed medication information, Sharp Health Plan members should log in to Sharp Connect to receive the most accurate drug pricing based on their benefit plan.

Filed Under: Sharp Health Plan Tagged With: Drugs, Pharmacy, Prescriptions, Prices, Sharp

Anthem Tiered Pharmacy Network For Off-Exchange Health Plans

February 9, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

The Rx Choice Tiered Network is comprised of more than 70,000 retail pharmacy locations in all. The network is anchored in Anthem markets, where offered, by CVS, along with Target pharmacies, now owned and operated by CVS. Members have the option to pick pharmacies at other retail chains and big box stores, as well as many independent drugstores.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, California, Drugs, Network, Pharmacy, Tier

Sharp Health Plan Transitioning From Diplomat to CVS Specialty Pharmacy

December 19, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Sharp, Health, Insurance, Plan, Covered California

Effective February 25, 2017, Sharp Health Plan is moving from Diplomat to CVS Specialty Pharmacy. According to Sharp, they found that CVS provides greater flexibility on how members can fulfill their specialty medication needs.

Filed Under: Sharp Health Plan Tagged With: CVS, Diplomat, Drugs, Medications, Pharmacy, Prescriptions, Sharp, Specialty

Blue Shield Partners with CVS for New Pharmacy Drug Benefits Program

November 2, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Blue Shield has entered into an agreement with CVS Health to support manufacturer rebate and pharmacy network contracting for its outpatient pharmacy benefit and has received approval from the Department of Managed Health Care.

Filed Under: Blue Shield Tagged With: Benefits, Blue Shield, CVS, Drugs, Pharmacy, Prescriptions

Specialty Drug Management Changes for Anthem Blue Cross Health Plans

October 6, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Health care costs continue to rise, and specialty drugs are a big contributor. These prescription medicines are used to treat complicated and chronic conditions, such as hepatitis C, cancer and multiple sclerosis. As specialty drugs become more widely used, we’re looking for new ways to control costs while keeping members healthy. That’s why we created our Right Drug Right Channel (RDRC) program.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, California, Drugs, Pharmacy, Specialty

Anthem Blue Cross may limit members to one pharmacy to curb drug abuse

April 21, 2016 By Kevin Knauss 6 Comments

The letter will explain that Anthem Blue Cross has noticed a potentially risky pattern in the way they’re getting prescriptions filled. They will have 60 days to change this risky behavior. If Anthem Blue Cross doesn’t see a change in their drug claims within 60 days, they’ll follow up with another letter.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Abuse, Anthem, Blue Cross, Drug, Pharmacy, Prescription

Anthem Blue Cross incorrect 2016 Bronze plan mailer

October 16, 2015 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Anthem Bronze PPO members with contract codes 1FZ3 and 1FZ4 received Benefit Comparison Charts in their 2016 Open Enrollment Kits that had incorrect coinsurance amounts listed for Tier 4 pharmacy benefits. The 2016 Tier 4 Retail Pharmacy benefits were listed as 0% coinsurance up to $500, and the Tier 4 Mail Order Pharmacy benefits were listed as 0% coinsurance up to $1,500. These amounts are not correct. The correct pharmacy benefits for 2016 are as follows:

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: 2016, Anthem Blue Cross, Benefit, Bronze, Drug, Pharmacy

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