Pittsburgh Business Group on Health's Prescription Drug Program Grew By 20 Percent and Beat National Average
Posted on: Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 12:00 CDT
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, the member companies in the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) Prescription Drug Program benefited from the purchasing power of multiple employers. The PBGH Prescription Drug Program, managed by PharmaCare, has once again shown impressive results realizing a 2005 overall program trend of less than one percent compared to the 12 percent trend reported nationally.
Members avoided spending $12.7 million for drug benefits and program membership grew by 20 percent to include 28 employers and 188,000 members. Last year's program trend was four percent.
"These results are significant when you take into account that some member companies' costs in 2005 were lower than the year before and retirees over age 65 account for 20 percent of our members," said Christine Whipple, executive director of PBGH. "Providing extensive experience information to equip employers in making timely and proactive benefit decisions was an important factor in influencing the results."
The 2005 costs were impacted more from a direct result of employers' proactive education efforts for their employees and retirees, rather than plan changes. One member company held on-site employee meetings across various multi-state plant locations stressing the use of generics and mail order options resulting in a retail generic utilization increase of 15 percent and a ten percent increase for mail order.
Mine Safety Appliances Company has also seen success with PBGH's program. "We've had an excellent experience participating in this program and have realized a lower expense trend rate compared to the national average largely through the increased use of generics by our plan members," said Jennifer Kirk, director, Total Rewards for the company. "This was accomplished through employee education and a well-designed plan that encourages the purchase of generics by offering meaningful price differentials. Additionally, we encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors through our wellness program which resulted in our employees using less medication."
The LivingMyLife Self Management Program(TM) is a new component under the PBGH Prescription Drug Program. Launched in 2006, it is designed to assist members with diabetes to manage their condition and their health. PBGH was one of the first employer groups to participate in the national Diabetes Ten City Challenge(SM) sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation with support from GlaxoSmithKline.
PBGH partners with PharmaCare, one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the country and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Corporation. PharmaCare, for the fifth consecutive year, achieved the top ranking for overall service and performance in the 2005 Customer Satisfaction Report conducted by the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute.
"We work hard to meet our clients' plan goals and are committed to providing programs that work to improve customer satisfaction and plan savings," said Greg Weishar, president and CEO of PharmaCare. "The results of the PBGH program demonstrate the value of our partnership, as well as our commitment to help develop opportunities such as LivingMyLife for PBGH member companies."
About the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
Founded in 1981, the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) is a non- profit organization and business-only coalition representing 64 member organizations, more than 1 million employees, dependents and retirees, and over $3 billion in health care expenditures. The organization strives to improve the delivery, cost and quality of health care through implementing and supporting quality initiatives, analyzing health care data and resources, and providing forums for exchange of ideas and viewpoints. http://www.pbghpa.com/
About PharmaCare
PharmaCare is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Corporation . Founded on the principles of value, trust and integrity, PharmaCare is one of the largest pharmaceutical benefit managers in the country. The company helps large employers, managed care organizations, insurance companies, unions and government agencies provide safe, cost effective prescription drug coverage for millions of Americans. PharmaCare's comprehensive offerings include fully integrated, state-of-the art mail-service, one of the nation's largest specialty pharmacies with a unique model that includes specialty mail services as well as 52 retail/clinic pharmacy locations, and a network of more than 56,800 pharmacies in all 50 states, and in nearly every city. Additional information on PharmaCare can be found at http://www.pharmacare.com/.
Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
CONTACT: Cary Conway, +1-972-731-9242, cary@conwaycommunication.com, forPittsburgh Business Group on Health
Web site: http://www.pbghpa.com/http://www.pharmacare.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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