PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, the state’s largest health insurance carrier, announces the launch of a pilot program with MedVantx to enhance Regence’s generic medication sampling program. The Generic Delivery Network provides physicians with access to free 30-day samples of generic medications, which can be offered to patients as an alternative to more costly brand-name drugs. The program is designed to help reduce the costs associated with the growing use of name brand prescription medications.
In 2003, consumers in the United States spent $216 billion on prescription medications. While generic medications accounted for 51 percent of all prescriptions, they accounted for less than eight percent of the costs. While generic medications are as clinically effective as their name brand equivalents, they are 75 percent less expensive, on average.(1)
Regence launched an in-house generic sampling program nearly two years ago as part of the company’s efforts to provide safe, cost-effective medication options to its members. The company has successfully moved thousands of patients from high-cost brands to appropriate generics, and by the end of 2003, increased the use of generic medication usage among members to 51 percent, which is about five percent higher than the national average.
“Generic manufacturers have to meet the same stringent criteria to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and we’re pleased to partner with MedVantx to further our efforts to provide our members with access to safe, affordable medications,” said Dr. Bart McMullan, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. “The MedVantx Generic Delivery Network provides physicians in our network with free, immediate access to generic medications, ultimately providing safe, more cost-effective options to patients.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, use of generic medications has the potential to save patients $8 to $10 billion per year. The MedVantx’ Network is a first-of-its-kind generic medication sampling program developed by physicians, health plans and pharmacy experts to provide a comprehensive approach to promoting generic medications at the point of care. The network offers generic medications via an ATM-like sample center, as well as evidence-based therapeutic programs, patient education materials and academic detailing materials.
Participating physician offices in Regence’s Oregon network will receive an automated sample center in their office at no cost. By automating many of the manual medication procedures, including medication dispensing and tracking, the sample center introduces control and functionality into the prescription process. The sample center organizes and dispenses generic medication samples representing nine therapeutic categories and containing more than 20 medications in one or more dosage levels. The MedVantx Generic Delivery Network is currently being used in 34 physician offices across the U.S.
About MedVantx
MedVantx has created the first generic delivery network that benefits payors, physicians and patients by providing first-line generic medication therapy free to patients at the point of care. The national MedVantx network builds regional payor sponsorships, encourages the use of lower-cost generic medications, and gives physicians convenient access to generic samples for all of their patients. For more information visit http://www.medvantx.com/.
About Regence
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon provides medical, dental and related coverage for about one million members in Oregon and in Clark County, Washington. It’s part of the Regence Group, the largest affiliation of health plans in the northwest and intermountain states, collectively covering nearly three million people. The Regence Group and its affiliates are not-for-profit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nearly one in three Americans has health care coverage through Blue Plans. For more information, visit http://www.or.regence.com/.
(1) Generic Pharmaceutical Association, “Generic Pharmaceutical Facts at
a Glance.”
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
CONTACT: Angela Hult of The Regence Group, +1-503-412-7902, oraehult@regence.com
Web site: http://www.medvantx.com/
Web site: http://www.or.regence.com/