http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions An insider's perspective on employee benefit programs and the issues that affect employers most. Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:03:04 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions/#comment-12 Bob Churchwell Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2602#comment-12 The idea is great for large companys. How can this concept work for small employers with less than 100 employees? The idea is great for large companys. How can this concept work for small employers with less than 100 employees?

]]> http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions/#comment-16 Jim Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2602#comment-16 I've worked for Pitney Bowes for over 30 years and was informed of the free/reduced cost perscriptions by a Pitney Bowes retiree which prompted me to look into this. Why has no one on the west coast that I know of that works for Pitney Bowes heard of this? Especially since they are one of the big companies driving this. I’ve worked for Pitney Bowes for over 30 years and was informed of the free/reduced cost perscriptions by a Pitney Bowes retiree which prompted me to look into this. Why has no one on the west coast that I know of that works for Pitney Bowes heard of this? Especially since they are one of the big companies driving this.

]]> http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions/#comment-19 Dr.+Christopher+Coulter Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2602#comment-19 Jim, see today's Wall Street Journal, page D1. The press, including the general business press, has been good about covering this issue, so many of us who work in employee benefits have been aware of Pitney Bowes' pharmacy programs. I can't comment on the company's internal communications of its benefit programs, since I haven't worked with Pitney Bowes as a client. I would comment, though, that keeping employees and retirees informed of benefit program changes is a difficult challenge for every employer. Jim, see today’s Wall Street Journal, page D1. The press, including the general business press, has been good about covering this issue, so many of us who work in employee benefits have been aware of Pitney Bowes’ pharmacy programs. I can’t comment on the company’s internal communications of its benefit programs, since I haven’t worked with Pitney Bowes as a client. I would comment, though, that keeping employees and retirees informed of benefit program changes is a difficult challenge for every employer.

]]> http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2007/employers-save-money-with-free-employee-prescriptions/#comment-20 Dr. Christopher Coulter Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://webdev.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2602#comment-20 Bob - It is definitely easier for jumbo employers who can design their own formularies to implement sophisticated pharmacy benefit designs, including those intended to increase compliance with medications to treat chronic illness. Smaller employers, especially those who are fully insured, have more limited options. My approach with clients has been to reduce the Tier 1 copay, and increase Tier 2, along the lines described. There are medications to treat every major chronic illness in the Tier 1 pharmacy benefit, for most every formulary I know. Every such medication may not be included in Tier 1, which would be ideal, but almost everyone with a chronic illness could potentially be covered by that strategy. The comment in today's Wall Street Journal article ("New Tack on Copays: Cutting Them") notes that Aetna is considering a formulary change to adopt this approach, and if other carriers follow suit, that could make it even easier to adopt this strategy. Bob – It is definitely easier for jumbo employers who can design their own formularies to implement sophisticated pharmacy benefit designs, including those intended to increase compliance with medications to treat chronic illness. Smaller employers, especially those who are fully insured, have more limited options. My approach with clients has been to reduce the Tier 1 copay, and increase Tier 2, along the lines described. There are medications to treat every major chronic illness in the Tier 1 pharmacy benefit, for most every formulary I know. Every such medication may not be included in Tier 1, which would be ideal, but almost everyone with a chronic illness could potentially be covered by that strategy. The comment in today’s Wall Street Journal article (”New Tack on Copays: Cutting Them”) notes that Aetna is considering a formulary change to adopt this approach, and if other carriers follow suit, that could make it even easier to adopt this strategy.

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