PBS: Anthem members using Walgreens need to choose different pharmacy

In September, Payroll & Benefit Services (PBS) learned that the pharmacy benefit vendor, Express Scripts (Anthem’s contracted Pharmacy Benefit Manager), was in negotiations with Walgreens to reach an agreement to keep Walgreens as a preferred provider. PBS reached out to Anthem expressing our desire that Express Scripts negotiate a deal that balances costs and allows Walgreens to continue as a network pharmacy. Express Scripts works on behalf of Anthem and its customers to keep prescription costs as affordable and accessible as possible.

Unfortunately at this time, Walgreens continues to indicate it will no longer be an Express Scripts provider effective Jan. 1, 2012. PBS is hopeful that Walgreens and Express Scripts will come to a positive resolution before the end of the year.

To avoid difficulties in having benefit coverage for prescriptions, members currently using a Walgreens pharmacy should make arrangements to transfer their prescriptions to a network pharmacy.  Express Scripts maintains a network of more than 56,000 pharmacy locations nationwide, even without Walgreens. On average, there is another network pharmacy within a half-mile of a Walgreens pharmacy, and most of the other major pharmacies. CU’s own University of Colorado Hospital Pharmacies, Wardenburg’s pharmacy on the Boulder campus, King Soopers, Safeway, Target and others continue to be part of the Express Scripts network. Members always may check the list of participating pharmacy providers online to see if a particular provider is in-network by visiting www.anthem.com/universityofcolorado.

PBS has provided an FAQ with more information here: https://www.cu.edu/pbs/benefits/downloads/2011_10-17_walgreens_faq.pdf. Anthem is sending letters and making phone calls to all members who currently fill prescriptions at Walgreens, and they have provided important information for those members here: http://www.anthem.com/wps/portal/ahpfooter?content_path=shared/noapplication/f0/s0/t0/pw_e178413.htm&label=Walgreens%20Update%20November%202011.

Questions: Contact Anthem at 1-800-735-6072 or a PBS benefits counselor at benefits@cu.edu.