CVS Caremark to provide pharmacy benefit management July 1

As previously announced, the university’s prescription drug plan will transition from Express Scripts to CVS Caremark effective July 1, 2020.  

Changing to CVS Caremark will result in changes to the mail order pharmacy, specialty medicine pharmacy and may include changes to the copay tier a drug is assigned, as well as whether certain drugs are covered.

Throughout June, faculty and staff will receive direct home mailings from CVS regarding the change and any impact on individual prescriptions and copays.

New identification cards to be used starting July 1, 2020 will be mailed to employee homes the week of June 22.
  
Employees should be aware of the following as the transition to CVS Caremark approaches:

• Retail pharmacy options will not be restricted to CVS pharmacies. Athens area retail pharmacies in the network include Kroger, Walmart, Shrivers, Fruth, Holzer Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Drugstore at O’Bleness, etc.
• Prescription drug programs such as generics preferred, mandatory mail order, prior authorization, and step therapy will remain in place.
• Mail order and specialty prescriptions will be transferred from Express Scripts to CVS Caremark.
• The CVS Caremark customer service hotline is scheduled to be activated prior to July 1, 2020. Faculty and staff will be alerted once the customer service hotline is available.

Special Note Regarding Mail Order/90 Day Supplies
With the change to CVS Caremark, faculty and staff will now have the option of receiving long-term maintenance prescription drugs through CVS Caremark mail order service or at a local CVS retail pharmacy. This program provides you with the flexibility to decide which delivery system is most convenient to you. If you utilize a CVS retail pharmacy, you will have the opportunity to discuss your medication face-to-face with a pharmacist. You will pay the same amount for your 90-day supply of covered maintenance medication whether you receive it at a local CVS retail pharmacy or through CVS Caremark mail order service. Look for instructions regarding how to use the mail order or retail pharmacy for a 90-day supply in the home mailing from CVS Caremark.

Please contact benefits@ohio.edu if you have any questions or concerns regarding the change to CVS Caremark.