BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Aug. 23, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comparing the costs of prescription drugs among different local pharmacies and home delivery options just got easier for millions of CIGNA HealthCare members who have prescription drug benefits through CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM).
With CIGNA Pharmacy Management’s new Web-based price quote tool, members can get a “real-time” price quote from any pharmacy in CIGNA’s network of over 52,000 retail pharmacies nationwide as well as from the CIGNA Tel-Drug home delivery pharmacy. The quote is based on the member’s specific benefit plan and reflects the actual cost the member can expect to pay out-of-pocket for a given prescription drug at a specific pharmacy.
In addition, the tool provides members with information about the cost of any available generic equivalent medication so they can compare the costs of brand-name drugs and generics. Equipped with this information, members will be able to determine where they can purchase their prescription for the lowest out-of-pocket cost. The price quotes will display “Member Cost,” “Plan Cost” and “Total Cost,” which will help members become more aware of the true costs of their health care.
“Consumer groups and employers all over the country have been advocating for this type of information to help consumers make more informed decisions about their health care. This is one of the first programs of its kind to actually provide today’s price at any local pharmacy,” said Karen Rohan, president of CIGNA Specialty Companies. “We want our members to use this tool to get the most value from their prescription drug plan.”
What price comparison means for the consumer
“As a large employer, we have a strong commitment to educate our employees about their health plan options,” said Duane Olson, manager, health and welfare plans at Deere & Company in Moline, IL. “However, we cannot do this unless our employees know the actual costs of their care. We want to make this information easily available to help employees make specific choices that meet their personal needs, therefore making optimal use of what is ultimately a limited resource.”
According to Rohan, the CIGNA price comparison tool was developed to help companies like Deere respond to the growing need to educate their employees about the full cost of their health care. The tool is available to all subscribers with CIGNA pharmacy benefits, however, Tom Richards, senior vice president for CIGNA HealthCare noted that it’s especially appealing to members in the CIGNA Choice Fund(SM) suite of consumer driven health plans, where members use their own Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) dollars to pay for a portion of their care. “This tool is another example of our ongoing effort to provide our members with the cost and quality information they need to make the best health care decisions,” said Richards.
The price quote comparison tool is the latest in an arsenal of tools on myCIGNA.com that enable CIGNA members to better understand their drug treatment options and have more informed discussions with their physicians about medications and their associated costs. The other pharmacy online tools include:
DrugCompare(TM) from WebMD: This tool allows a member to compare medications or classes of medications for potential side effects, drug interactions or contraindications, and alternative medications, such as available generic medications. CIGNA Prescription Drug List and My Prescription Drug Benefits: These tools allow members to review the list of CIGNA covered medications and their CIGNA pharmacy benefit coverage before visiting the doctor. Members and physicians are then better able to determine which medication might be appropriate based on benefit plan design and clinical needs. Prescription Claim History Tool: In addition to the price quote tool, CPM is adding a new combined retail and home delivery pharmacy prescription claim history tool which enables employees to see details of prescriptions they’ve filled at a retail pharmacy or through CIGNA Tel-Drug in the past to help plan for potential out-of-pocket costs. Medication Library from HealthWise: This tool provides detailed information on thousands of prescription medications. The information includes details about when the drug should be used, dosing instructions, possible side effects, drug interactions and more. The library also provides questions members can ask their physicians about the medications.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management employs a consultative approach to help plan sponsors design pharmacy benefit plans that achieve the lowest net costs while providing industry-leading pharmacy clinical programs to help improve the health outcomes of their members.
CIGNA HealthCare members wishing to join the millions who have registered for their own personal health care Website, may visit http://www.myCIGNA.com. Members of the media who want a demonstration of myCIGNA.com should contact Lindsay Shearer at 603.268.7721.
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 of CIGNA, +1-603-268-7721,lindsay.shearer@cigna.com
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