Pharmacy Benefits - Prescription Drugs and Diabetic Equipment or Supplies from a Pharmacy This plan covers prescription drugs listed on our formulary and diabetic equipment or supplies bought from a pharmacy as a pharmacy benefit. These benefits are administered by our Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). Our formulary includes a tiered copayment structure and indicates that certain prescription drugs require preauthorization. If a prescription drug is not on our formulary, it is not covered. For specific coverage information or a copy of the most current formulary, please visit our website or call our Customer Service Department. Prescription drugs and diabetic equipment or supplies are covered when dispensed using the following guidelines: • the prescription must be medically necessary, consistent with the physician’s diagnosis, ordered by a physician whose license allows him or her to order it, filled at a pharmacy whose license allows such a prescription to be filled, and filled according to state and federal laws; • the prescription must consist of legend drugs that require a physician’s prescription under law, or compound medications made up of at least one legend drug requiring a physician’s prescription under law; • the prescription must be dispensed at the proper place of service as determined by our Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. For example, certain prescription drugs may only be covered when obtained from a specialty pharmacy; and • the prescription is limited to the quantities authorized by your physician not to exceed the quantity listed in the Summary of Pharmacy Benefits. Prescription drugs are subject to the benefit limits and the amount you pay shown in the Summary of Pharmacy Benefits.
Prescription Drug Plan Effective July 1, 2011, retail and mail order prescription drug copays for bargaining unit employees shall be as follows: Type of Drug Prescriptions for 1-45 Days (1 copay) Prescriptions for 46-90 Days (2 copays) Generic drug $10 $20 Preferred brand name drug $25 $50 Non-preferred brand name drug $40 $80 Effective July 1, 2011, for each plan year the Prescription Drug annual out-of- pocket copay maximum shall be $1,000 for individual coverage and $1,500 for employee and spouse, employee and child, or employee and family coverage.
Specialty Prescription Drugs (+ Prorated copayments for a shorter supply period may apply for network pharmacy only. See Prescription Drug section for details. When purchased at a Specialty Pharmacy (+): For maintenance and non-maintenance prescription drugs, a copayment applies for each 30-day period (or portion thereof) within the prescribeddosing period. Tier 5: $125 Not Covered When purchased at a Retail Pharmacy (+): For maintenance and non-maintenance prescription drugs, a copayment applies for each 30-day period (or portion thereof) within the prescribeddosing period. Specialty Prescription Drugs purchasedat a retail pharmacy will require a significantly higher out of pocket expense than if purchased from a Specialty Pharmacy. Our reimbursement is based on the pharmacy allowance. Tier 5: 50% Not Covered When purchased at a Mail Order Pharmacy: Not Covered Not Covered Covered Benefits Network Pharmacy Non-network Pharmacy (+) Preauthorization is required for thisservice. Please see Preauthorization in Section 3 for more information. You Pay You Pay Infertility Prescription Drugs - Three(3) in-vitro cycles will be covered per plan year with a total of eight (8) in-vitro cycles covered in a member’s lifetime. When purchased at a Specialty, Mail Order, or Retail Pharmacy Tier 1: 20% Not Covered Tier 2: 20% Not Covered Tier 3: 20% Not Covered Tier 4: 20% Not Covered When purchased at a Specialty Pharmacy (+) Tier 5: 20% Not Covered When purchased at a Retail Pharmacy (+): Specialty Prescription Drugs purchased at a retail pharmacy will require a significantly higher out of pocket expense than if purchased from a specialty pharmacy. Tier 5: 20% Not Covered Contraceptive Methods- Preventive Coverage includes barrier method (diaphragmor cervical cap), hormonal method (birth control pill), and emergency contraception. For non-preventive contraceptive prescription drugs and devices, the amount you pay will depend on the tier placement of the contraceptive prescription drug or device. See above for details. When purchased at a Retail Pharmacy: Up to a 365-day supply of contraceptive prescription drugs is available at all network retail pharmacies. For more information about this option, visit our website. Tier 1: $0 Not Covered When purchased at a Mail Order Pharmacy: Up to a 90-day supply. Tier 1: $0 Not Covered
Prescription Drug any drugs or medications ordered by a Professional Provider by means of a valid prescription order, bearing the Federal legend: “Caution - Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription,” or legend drugs under applicable state law and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. Also included are prescribed insulin and other pharmacological agents used to control blood sugar, diabetic supplies and insulin syringes.
CHILD AND DEPENDENT ADULT/ELDER ABUSE REPORTING CONTRACTOR shall establish a procedure acceptable to ADMINISTRATOR to ensure that all employees, agents, subcontractors, and all other individuals performing services under this Agreement report child abuse or neglect to one of the agencies specified in Penal Code Section 11165.9 and dependent adult or elder abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 of the WIC to one of the agencies specified in WIC Section 15630. CONTRACTOR shall require such employees, agents, subcontractors, and all other individuals performing services under this Agreement to sign a statement acknowledging the child abuse reporting requirements set forth in Sections 11166 and 11166.05 of the Penal Code and the dependent adult and elder abuse reporting requirements, as set forth in Section 15630 of the WIC, and shall comply with the provisions of these code sections, as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.
Medical Benefits - Prescription Drugs Administered by a Provider (other than a pharmacist) This plan covers prescription drugs as a medical benefit, referred to as “medical prescription drugs”, when the prescription drug requires administration (or the FDA approved recommendation is administration) by a licensed healthcare provider (other than a pharmacist). Please note: Specialty prescription drugs meeting these requirements or recommendations are covered as a pharmacy benefit and not a medical benefit. These medical prescription drugs include, but are not limited to, medications administered by infusion, injection, or inhalation, as well as nasal, topical or transdermal administered medications. For some of these medical prescription drugs, the cost of the prescription drug is included in the allowance for the medical service being provided, and is not separately reimbursed.
How to File an Appeal of a Prescription Drug Denial For denials of a prescription drug claim based on our determination that the service was not medically necessary or appropriate, or that the service was experimental or investigational, you may request an appeal without first submitting a request for reconsideration. You or your physician may file a written or verbal prescription drug appeal with our pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). The prescription drug appeal must be submitted to us within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the initial determination letter. You will receive written notification of our determination within thirty (30) calendar days from the receipt of your appeal. How to File an Expedited Appeal Your appeal may require immediate action if a delay in treatment could seriously jeopardize your health or your ability to regain maximum function, or would cause you severe pain. To request an expedited appeal of a denial related to services that have not yet been rendered (a preauthorization review) or for on-going services (a concurrent review), you or your healthcare provider should call: • our Grievance and Appeals Unit; or • our pharmacy benefits manager for a prescription drug appeal. Please see Section 9 for contact information. You will be notified of our decision no later than seventy-two (72) hours after our receipt of the request. You may not request an expedited review of covered healthcare services already received.
How to Obtain Prescription Drug Preauthorization To obtain prescription drug preauthorization, the prescribing provider must submit a prescription drug preauthorization request form. These forms are available on our website or by calling the number listed for the “Pharmacist” on the back of your ID card. Prescription drugs that require preauthorization will only be approved when our clinical guidelines are met. These guidelines are based upon clinically appropriate criteria that ensure that the prescription drug is appropriate and cost- effective for the illness, injury or condition for which it has been prescribed. We will send you written notification of the prescription drug preauthorization determination within fourteen (14) calendar days of the receipt of the request. How to Request an Expedited Preauthorization Review You may request an expedited review if the circumstances are an emergency. Due to the urgent nature of an expedited review, your prescribing provider must either call or fax the completed form and indicate the urgent nature of the request. When an expedited preauthorization review is received, we will respond to you with a determination within seventy-two (72) hours or less. If we deny your request for preauthorization, you can submit a medical appeal. See Appeals in Section 5 for information on how to file a medical appeal. Formulary Exception Process When a prescription drug is not on our formulary, you can request that this plan cover the drug as an exception. To request a formulary exception, complete a Coverage Exception form (located on our website), contact our Customer Service Department, or have your prescribing provider submit a request for you. We will respond to you with a determination within seventy- two (72) hours following receipt of the request. For standard exception reviews, if the exception is approved, we will cover the prescription drug for the duration of the prescription, including refills. How to Request an Expedited Formulary Exception Review You may request an expedited review if a delay could significantly increase the risk to your health or your ability to regain maximum function, or you are undergoing a current course of treatment with a drug not on our formulary. Please indicate “urgent” on the Coverage Exception form or inform Customer Service of the urgent nature of your request. We will respond to you with a determination within twenty-four (24) hours following receipt of the request. For expedited exception reviews, if the exception is approved, we will cover the prescription drug for the duration of the exigency. For both standard and expedited exception reviews, if we grant your request for a formulary exception, the amount you pay will be the copayment at the highest formulary tier in your plan. Other applicable benefit requirements, such as step therapy, are not waived by this exception and must be reviewed separately. If we deny your request for a formulary exception, we will notify you with information on how to appeal our decision, including external appeal information.
Prescription Drugs The agreement may impose a variety of limits affecting the scope or duration of benefits that are not expressed numerically. An example of these types of treatments limit is preauthorization. Preauthorization is applied to behavioral health services in the same way as medical benefits. The only exception is except where clinically appropriate standards of care may permit a difference. Mental disorders are covered under Section A. Mental Health Services. Substance use disorders are covered under Section
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Contractor understands that HHS does not tolerate any type of fraud, waste, or abuse. Violations of law, agency policies, or standards of ethical conduct will be investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken. Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 321.022, if the administrative head of a department or entity that is subject to audit by the state auditor has reasonable cause to believe that money received from the state by the department or entity or by a client or contractor of the department or entity may have been lost, misappropriated, or misused, or that other fraudulent or unlawful conduct has occurred in relation to the operation of the department or entity, the administrative head shall report the reason and basis for the belief to the Texas State Auditor’s Office (SAO). All employees or contractors who have reasonable cause to believe that fraud, waste, or abuse has occurred (including misconduct by any HHS employee, Grantee officer, agent, employee, or subcontractor that would constitute fraud, waste, or abuse) are required to immediately report the questioned activity to the Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General. Contractor agrees to comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and System Agency policies regarding fraud, waste, and abuse including, but not limited to, HHS Circular C-027. A report to the SAO must be made through one of the following avenues: ● SAO Toll Free Hotline: 1-800-TX-AUDIT ● SAO website: xxxx://xxx.xxxxx.xxxxx.xx.xx/ All reports made to the OIG must be made through one of the following avenues: ● OIG Toll Free Hotline 0-000-000-0000 ● OIG Website: XxxxxxXxxxxXxxxx.xxx ● Internal Affairs Email: XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxxxx.xx.xx ● OIG Hotline Email: XXXXxxxxXxxxxxx@xxxx.xxxxx.xx.xx. ● OIG Mailing Address: Office of Inspector General Attn: Fraud Hotline MC 1300 P.O. Box 85200 Austin, Texas 78708-5200
