Mail order pharmacy vendor change

Effective Oct. 1, 2010, Priority Health began using Express Scripts home delivery pharmacy instead of Walgreens mail service for mail order pharmacy needs. This change directly affects the more than 31,000 members who use mail order pharmacy services, but there should be minimal disruption.

Members use mail order for 90-day supplies of drugs they take on a regular basis. They can get a 90-day supply for typically only two copays instead of three. They save money on copays and have their medications delivered right to their door without paying for shipping. This change applies to all plans except Medicaid and MIChild, which are limited to 30-day prescriptions. This change doesn’t affect members who don’t have Priority Health pharmacy benefits.

Affected members received communications and mail order forms in September in preparation for the Oct. 1, 2010 change. Information is also available on the Member Center and the Provider Center.

Questions and answers: change to Express Scripts
I sent my patient’s prescription electronically to Walgreens on Oct. 2, 2010. What happened to the prescription?
The prescription will be rejected by Walgreens and a letter will be generated informing you that Walgreens is no longer the member mail service provider. Please don’t send electronic prescriptions or any other prescriptions to Walgreens mail service after Sept. 30, 2010.

My patient is calling my office for a new prescription because the current prescription won’t transfer.
Expired prescriptions, prescriptions older than one year, compound drugs and controlled substances will not transfer to Express Scripts. If your patient has one of these prescriptions, please generate a new prescription and fill it with Express Scripts through fax or electronic prescribing, or have your patient fill it online or by mail or phone.

What fax number do I use to send a 90-day prescription?
You can fax or phone in prescriptions (physician use only):

• Fax: 800 875-6356
• Phone: 800 553-3750

How do I submit an electronic prescription?
To electronically prescribe a medication, use a certified software application. The prescription will be sent to Express Scripts electronically — either via a 100% EDI (electronic data interchange) transaction or via an electronic fax.

If an EDI transaction is used, the prescription is transmitted from one internet protocal address to another, without the use of a fax or phone number. If an electronic fax is sent, it requires a central fax number from an e-prescribing vendor. In all cases, electronic faxes should be sent using fax number 866 825-6605, which is a dedicated e-prescribing line and is programmed only for that use.

The fax number for hard-copy prescriptions is 800 875-6356.

Please remember to set up Express Scripts as the default for Priority Health members.

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