Pharmacy Programs Medication DedicationSMApproximately 50 percent of people who suffer from chronic health conditions do not take their medications as directed.1 Studies show that failure to take medications as prescribed results in the loss of approximately 125,000 lives a year from cardiovascular disease alone, and places a $100 billion burden on the health care industry.2 Medication DedicationSM, a new medication adherence program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), is designed to help employees with specific chronic conditions avoid the risks involved with not taking their medications as prescribed by removing cost barriers often associated with prescription medications. Beginning January 1, 2008, BCBSNC is waiving the copayment for generic drugs used in the treatment of congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.3 See the complete Copayment Waiver Drug List BCBSNC is also moving more expensive brand name drugs that treat the same chronic conditions listed above into a lower drug classification tier to make them more affordable.4 See the complete Formulary Change Drug List To provide your employees with information on how they can participate in this new medication adherence program, we've created a letter and PDF that you can download, print and distribute. Download Medication Dedication letter For more information about Medication Dedication, including program eligibility, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
BCBSNC reserves the right to revise and/or discontinue the Medication Dedication program at any time without advance notice. 1 "Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action" World Health Organization Report, 2003: (February 2007). 2 "Case Management Adherence Guidelines, Version 2.0" Case Management Society of America, 2006: (February 2007). 3 Some groups may elect not to participate in the generic copayment waiver. Please check with your employer to see if your group is participating in the Medication Dedication program. 4 Some medications that treat the conditions covered under Medication Dedication may be excluded from the tier change. Consult the Formulary Change Drug List for a complete list of the drugs moving from Tier 3 to Tier 2. |
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