By Wendy Frisch
HR Communications

Beginning Jan. 1, the University will coordinate the administration of its Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) with SXC Health Solutions and Walgreens Mail Service, replacing AdvancePCS/Caremark as U-M's pharmacy administrator. The change of vendors for 2006 will not alter plan features, benefit levels or member co-pay amounts.

SXC will provide drug claims processing and services that are expected to help build greater flexibility and reduce overall cost through improved discounts on drug prices. Plan members can use a full network of retail pharmacies to fill prescriptions, but will use Walgreens Mail Service if they choose to utilize U-M's mail order pharmacy benefit for home delivery of ongoing maintenance drugs.

The selection of new vendors was supported, in part, by plan members' responses to a recent customer satisfaction survey conducted by the College of Pharmacy. While overall satisfaction scores essentially were positive, members indicated a great interest in making it easier to obtain mail order drugs and receiving clear answers to questions about their prescriptions and claims.

The Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute has ranked Walgreens Mail Service as the leading mail order pharmacy for customer satisfaction.

"Mail order pharmacy has been a critical service area for our members taking maintenance medications who want home delivery," says Keith Bruhnsen, PDP manager. "Our surveys and direct feedback from participants showed improving mail order service as a high priority for plan members."

SXC Health Solutions will be responsible for issuing member identification cards, providing customer services and pharmacy help desk telephone representatives, creating access to statewide and nationwide retail pharmacy networks, and processing prescription drug claims.

In December, all PDP members will receive a welcome packet at their home address with two ID cards and information on using their drug benefit with SXC and Walgreens.