Medco is now the prescription drug benefit manager for NC Health Choice

(4/05) --During March, families whose children are enrolled in NC Health Choice received a packet in the mail explaining the benefit. The following information was provided in the cover letter:

• A new temporary NC Health Choice Insurance Card, that includes the Medco information, was to be sent in a separate mailing to each child. Then 90 days later a new permanent NC Health Choice Insurance Card is to be mailed. (It was noted that the new permanent ID card would not contain their child's social security number).
  
  
• Families were referred to a website (www.medco.com) to get further information about the plan and access health and wellness information.
  
  
• Families were encouraged to call a toll-free number (1-800-336-5933) or visit www.medco.com to find a participating retail pharmacy.
  
  
• And lastly, families were encouraged to complete and return the Health & Medication Questionnaire in an enclosed envelope. Medco will use this information to help protect their children against potentially harmful drug interactions.

We wanted you to have access to this information in case you receive calls from families who do not understand the information they received. From the parent's perspective, not much has changed, but they do need to replace their child's insurance card each time a new card arrives and keep the newest card in their wallet or purse.

For NC Health Choice, it is anticipated that approximately $8 million will be saved through 2006. The savings will result from the ability of the new medication manager to plow savings into the program. The previous medication manager kept the savings from prescription discounts and used that money to cover its costs for administering the program. This management company charges a separate administration fee and returns the savings to the state.