Blue Cross Pharmacy Managing Costs Through New Partnerships

At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, we work every day to keep prescription medication affordable for you and your family.

That’s why Blue Cross is making improvements to our prescription drug plans beginning Jan. 1, 2022, for commercial group and individual members, to expand access and improve prescription drug prices – giving members like you more value and cost savings. The change will take place on Jan. 1, 2023, for our Medicare group and individual members.

As a current member with Blue Cross pharmacy coverage, there are some changes to be aware of.

New ID Card

The updates start with a new Blue Cross and BCN member ID card for 2022, which will be mailed to commercial members before the end of December. If you haven’t received your new ID card, you’ll receive it soon. It’s important to show your new ID card at your pharmacy the first time you fill a prescription in 2022.

Make sure to share your new ID card with your doctor’s office as well.

You can also access your ID card digitally anytime through your online member account at bcbsm.com or on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan mobile app. Your digital ID card is always up to date. It will show your new information starting Jan. 1.

New Home Delivery Pharmacy

OptumRx will be the new home delivery pharmacy for our commercial members, starting Jan. 1, 2022.

If you receive any medications through Express Scripts – our current home delivery pharmacy – most prescriptions with remaining refills will automatically transfer to OptumRx. You’ll receive a call from OptumRx to set up your account, and they’ll send a letter confirming your transferred prescriptions in January.

However, you may need to see your doctor to obtain a new prescription for certain medications to continue home delivery service. You’ll need a new prescription if:

• There are no refills remaining on your prescription.
• Your prescription has expired.
• Your medicine is a controlled substance, which legally can’t be transferred. This includes some medicine to treat chronic pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and seizure conditions. Check the label on your medicine bottle, the prescription insert from the pharmacy or your online member account to see if your medicine is a controlled substance.

You will receive letters in November and January with more details about home delivery service, transferred prescriptions and instructions for sending new prescriptions, which your doctor may also submit electronically for you.

Updated Online Tools

Your online member account at bcbsm.com and on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan mobile app will feature updated pharmacy information beginning Jan. 1.

You’ll still get information about your prescriptions, out-of-pocket costs, and your medication history, and you’ll also find tools that help:

• Reference the drugs covered under your plan
• Compare drug prices at pharmacies
• Find in-network pharmacies
• Enroll in home delivery

The online tools will have a new look and share some additional information.

For more information, visit bcbsm.com/pharmacy.

More from MIBluesPerspectives:

• How Your Insurance Company Can Help You Save Money on Prescriptions
• Beware the Dangers of Keeping Unused Prescriptions
• Less is More: You May Not Need an Antibiotic

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