Press Release

FutureScripts® a Presenter at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Forum

Paul Urick offers generic drug strategies to improve operational solutions

Philadelphia, PA — May 12, 2009 — Paul Urick, R.Ph., senior vice president for FutureScripts, was a faculty guest speaker at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s Lasting Operational Solutions Educational Forum today at 2 p.m. The forum topic was Pharmacy Formulary and Utilization Management Strategies, and Urick’s presentation focused on strategies that have proven effective in increasing awareness and utilization of generic drugs. More than 200 attendees joined by webinar/teleconference.

Urick’s presentation provided insight on specific ways in which FutureScripts has partnered with Independence Blue Cross to offer programs that raise member awareness and provide financial incentives for them to ask their doctors about generic drugs. No Pay Copay, for example, waived copays on all generic drugs for a full year, and Rx for Better Health waived copays for six months on 75 generic drugs used to treat certain chronic conditions. Both programs resulted in profound effects to overall generic utilization in southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Over the next 24 months, we expect to see 13 major brand drugs become available in generic form, representing $5 billion in drug spend nationally,” Urick said. “The time will be ripe for more plans to promote the switch to generic drugs. Members need encouragement to begin a dialogue with their doctors about new prescriptions to ensure their switch. And while they are saving themselves and their employer money by opting for generics, use of generics often leads to greater compliance and medication adherence rates, so it’s a win-win. Healthier members save money for everyone.”

The forum will educate attendees on how Blue Plans operate a variety of pharmacy programs that impact a wide range of medical conditions to increase the value of pharmacy benefits.

Within the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Blue plans coordinate efforts on a number of activities, frequently involving the BlueCard® system, national accounts, and other inter-plan programs where they have a shared interest in remaining competitive against other major health insurers. To remain competitive, Blue plans may benefit by exchanging ideas on best practices for medical cost savings, with the goal of reducing the rising cost of medical care for employer groups, national accounts, and members overall.

FutureScripts, an independent pharmacy benefits management company, headquartered in Philadelphia, helps employers and health plans manage rising prescription drug costs without sacrificing quality coverage. FutureScripts has built a comprehensive national pharmacy network of more than 60,000 retail pharmacies, including independent pharmacies as well as all of the major pharmacy retail chains. For more information, call FutureScripts at 1-888-678-7012.

Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.