Earlier this week, we learned that the Bluecross South Carolina Pharmacy network for all marketplace plans would change to the Advanced Choice Pharmacy Network, effective October 1st 2016.
Bluecross Pharmacy network is changing!
What does this mean for you? The BIGGEST change we expect most members to notice, effective October 1st 2016 is that Rite-Aid and Walgreens pharmacies will NO LONGER be IN NETWORK for the Bluecross South Carolina pharmacy network.
From the Bluecross Blueshield South Carolina pharmacy network press release:
Effective Oct. 1, 2016, all BlueEssentialsSM individual and family Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan members must fill prescriptions at a pharmacy in the Advanced ChoicePharmacy Network. This will impact current members, as well as members with new plans sold with effective dates of Oct. 1 and beyond. Exclusive pharmacy networks are a necessary step toward controlling prescription drug costs that continue to trend upward.
We want to make sure our members understand their health plans and get the most out of their pharmacy benefits. The new network of pharmacies includes access to CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Kroger, Publix, K-Mart, Long’s Drugs, Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie pharmacies plus various other grocers and independent pharmacies.
It is important to note, however, that Walgreens and Rite-Aid are not in the Advanced Choice Pharmacy Network. We will not cover prescription drugs purchased out of network. If a member is currently using a pharmacy that will be out of network effectiveOct. 1, our customer service team is ready to help them transition to a networkpharmacy. Beginning this week, Caremark will send letters to members who have filled a prescription at one of the non-network pharmacies in the past six months. Caremark is an independent company that provides pharmacy benefits management on behalf ofBlueCross. View a sample letter.
View the list of pharmacies in the Advanced Choice Network.
The list of network pharmacies will be updated on www.SouthCarolinaBlues.com prior to the change going into effect. As always, we encourage members to log in to My Health Toolkit® for the most up-to-date list of in-network pharmacies.
One Response
I would like to know how the decision to exclude Rite Aid / Walgreens from the ACA program was made ?