Generics First - A Step Therapy Program effective 10/1/13
Do you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires generic drugs to have the same strength and purity as brand-name drugs? Generic drugs can be just as effective as their brand-name counterparts at a fraction of the price, so why would you spend more than you have to on your prescription medications? Choose generics and save. Your prescription drug plan is designed to save you money. Before you use one of the brand-name drugs listed here, you will first need to try a similar, alternative medication. In most cases, this will be a generic drug. Generics are approved by the FDA as safe and effective but will cost you less.
Example: Before you can fill a new prescription for the brand-name drug Cymbalta, you will need to try one of the generic alternatives first – bupropion, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline or venlafaxine.
It’s important that you share this list with your doctor to help coordinate your medication needs. This list shows you which brand-name drugs are affected, as well as the recommended alternatives. This list represents prescription drugs in our standard Generics First - Step Therapy Program. Your benefits may be different. If you have any questions about this list, call the Customer Service number on the back of your BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee member ID card.
Before you take one You must have tried Before you take one You must have tried of these drugs… ONE of these… of these drugs… ONE of these… ACE INHIBITORS ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR BLOCKERS ACE INHIBITORS WITH CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS ANGIOTENSIN COMBINATION DRUGS ACE INHIBITORS WITH DIURETICS
Accuretic benazepril/hydrochlorothiazide
Vaseretic lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide
Zestoretic moexipril/hydrochlorothiazide
ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR BLOCKERS WITH DIURETICS
This list is subject to change throughout the year. Please call Member Service at the phone number listed on your BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee member ID
card or visit our website at bcbst.com for the most up‐to‐date information.
Generics First - A Step Therapy Program effective 7/1/13 Before you take one You must have tried of these drugs… ONE of these… ANTIDEPRESSANTS Drug Benefit Appeals
You or your physician may appeal the denial of a drug benefit or a quantity
limit by faxing supportive documentation to 1-888-343-4232. Please read
your Evidence of Coverage for more information.
Pexeva mirtazapine Pristiq paroxetine Prozac (all)
BETA BLOCKERS Betapace (all) acebutolol Bystolic atenolol
Corgard carvedilol Kerlone labetalol Levatol metoprolol
Lopressor nadolol Sectral pindolol Tenormin propranolol
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS Adalat (all)
Cardizem (all) nicardipine Norvasc nifedipine
LIPID LOWERING AGENTS (HMG Co-A Reductase Inhibitors) Advicor atorvastatin Altoprev fenofibrate Caduet fluvastatin Crestor lovastatin Lescol pravastatin Lescol XL
Lipitor Liptruzet Mevacor Pravachol Vytorin Zocor
PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS (PPIs) Nexium cimetidine Prevacid (all)
Prilosec lansoprazole Protonix nizatidine omeprazole pantoprazole ranitidine
This list is subject to change throughout the year. Please call Member Service at the phone number listed on your BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee member ID
card or visit our website at bcbst.com for the most up‐to‐date information.
C l a r u s ™ DON’T FORGET DON’T FORGET • You MUST have a NEGATIVE pregnancy test to continue • You MUST have a NEGATIVE pregnancy test to continue • You MUST abstain from sexual intercourse • You MUST abstain from sexual intercourse Use TWO reliable methods of Birth Control at the same time Use TWO reliable methods of Birth Control at the same time
Minutes of SAON meeting held October 12th 2011 Meeting commenced at 1925hrs. Present: Anita Taylor (President), Larissa Bailey (Secretary), Cheryl Kimber, Paul McLeish, Ann Chapman (Treasurer), Kristian Sanchez, Bree Coombe, Jenny De Young. Apologies: Cathy Magor, Cathy Dorsey, Marilyn Pascoe, Helen Fuss, Angela Munoz, Maria Coutlakis, Lesley Thomas, Sam Miller. Minutes of Previous