November 12, 1999

A few changes have been made to MGH employees' prescription drug benefits. Merck-Medco, which has been the vendor for the Partners Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans' pharmacy benefit until September 1999, now will be used for all benefits plans. The current pharmacy program was designed by the hospital's benefits consultants and Merck-Medco to ensure that all currently available drugs would continue to be accessible, while promoting the use of less expensive medications where clinically appropriate. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about the Merck-Medco program.

What brands of prescription drugs are included in each tier in the Merck-Medco program?
Employees can look at the web site http://is.partners.org/hr/openenrollment/mgh.htm to find a chart showing some alternatives for common prescription drugs under Merck-Medco. This list shows what current drugs are available in the various copayment tiers and can help MGHers make decisions with their physicians in choosing a preferred or generic brand. Also on this site is a listing of participating independent drug stores (listed by zip code) and drug store chains (listed alphabetically). The MGH Outpatient Pharmacy also is an approved pharmacy that MGHers can use, and it is conveniently located on the first floor of the WACC.

Will all my current prescriptions be covered by the new plan?
Information to help determine the copayment tier of any drug will be included in the Merck-Medco kit distributed in December. Drug coverage is plan-specific. If a prescribed medication was covered under an employee's health plan before, it will be covered under the Merck-Medco plan.

What if a $25 prescription copayment is a cost concern for employees?
Most nonpreferred brand name drugs have equally effective alternatives found on the generic or preferred brand list, which have lower co-payments.