BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Oct. 1, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM) today announced the actions it has taken to assist CIGNA HealthCare members and network providers following the FDA announcement that Merck & Co., Inc. has voluntarily withdrawn Vioxx(R) (rofecoxib) from the worldwide market. Vioxx was a non-preferred/non-formulary medication on the CIGNA drug list.
The initial actions included: -- Stopping all dispensing of Vioxx(R) from CIGNA Tel-Drug and Staff Model pharmacy facilities from the time of the Merck announcement. All completed Vioxx(R) orders awaiting shipment have been withheld and quarantined. -- Contacting the prescriber to discuss alternative therapies for any current Vioxx prescription in production through CIGNA Tel-Drug and Staff Model pharmacies. -- Distributing information throughout CIGNA HealthCare to answer member, provider and customer inquiries. -- Placing a “pop-up” box in the health care section on cigna.com and mycigna.com, providing information on the FDA Public Health Advisory related to the withdrawal of Vioxx(R) and advising patients currently using Vioxx(R) to contact their physician for guidance regarding discontinuation and alternative therapies.
In addition, CPM is contacting all physicians who recently prescribed Vioxx(R) for a CIGNA HealthCare member. CPM will work with the member and the physician to expedite the pre-certification process for alternative therapies for members who had a pre-certification in place for Vioxx(R).
“Our first priority is the safety of our members. CIGNA Pharmacy Management will continue to monitor the situation and will update information as it becomes available,” said Jon Maesner, PharmD, vice president for CPM.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM) refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation . Products and services are provided by these subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. These subsidiaries include Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Inc., Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania, L.L.C., and HMO or service company subsidiaries of CIGNA Health Corporation.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management
Contact: Lindsay Shearer, CIGNA, +1-603-268-7721,lindsay.shearer@cigna.com
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
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