DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is helping lower members’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs through the launch of an easy-to-use new tool. Rx Savings Solutions, available to most Blue Cross NC customers, uses claims data to identify equally effective medicine options available to members at lower costs.
When a savings opportunity is found, the member is notified via email or text message. After talking to their doctor, members can decide if they want to take advantage of the tool’s recommendations, which may include a generic substitute, therapeutic equivalent, or dosage change. Recommendations for cost-saving alternatives are based on members’ specific drug benefits, and possible drug interactions are always considered. The tool even alerts members if their medication is available for less at a different pharmacy.
Overall, the cost of health care continues to rise, and prescription drugs are no exception. In 2017, the U.S. spent $333 billion on retail prescription drugs, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)[1]. Blue Cross NC data shows[2] that in 2018 average annual claims per person climbed to just over $5,000 per fully insured member. Some of the services driving those higher medical costs include injectable drugs and infusions, and specialty drugs.
“Blue Cross NC is committed to transforming the health care system for better, simpler, more affordable health care and addressing the cost of prescription drugs is critical to that work,” said Estay Greene, Blue Cross NC vice president of pharmacy services. “Rx Savings Solutions is a powerful tool to help members make well-informed health care decisions when it comes to their prescriptions.”
Rx Savings Solutions, an optional service for members, was designed and validated by pharmacists and builds on our existing resources allowing customers to compare cost and quality of health care options. Because notifications are sent to customers’ preferred contacts, members must be registered for Blue ConnectSM to receive these cost-saving alerts. On average, members save $153 per fill. For more information on how the program works, watch this video.
Rx Savings Solutions is available for Blue Cross NC individual and select group members. Customers with Blue Cross NC coverage through their employer are encouraged to contact their HR representative to see if Rx Savings Solutions is available through their insurance plan.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.9 million members, including approximately 1.1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
About Rx Savings Solutions
Rx Savings Solutions offers an innovative, patented engagement software system empowering employers and employees to be educated consumers of health care. In addition to large, Fortune 500 Employers, Rx Savings Solutions also services health plan clients. Founded and operated by a team of pharmacists and software engineers, Rx Savings Solutions supports a collaborative, cost-saving solution for purchasing prescription drugs. For more information, visit rxavingssolutions.com or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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