2025 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan - FEP Blue Focus
Section 5(f). Prescription Drug Benefits
Page 93
Section 5(f). Prescription Drug Benefits
Page 93
- Generic equivalents
- Disclosure of information. As part of our administration of prescription drug benefits, we may disclose information about your prescription drug utilization, including the names of your prescribing physicians, to any treating physicians or dispensing pharmacies.
- These are the dispensing limitations.
Notes:
- Certain drugs such as narcotics may have additional limits or requirements as established by the U.S. FDA or by national scientific or medical practice guidelines (such as Centers for Disease Control, American Medical Association, etc.) on the quantities that a pharmacy may dispense. In addition, pharmacy dispensing practices are regulated by the state where they are located and may also be determined by individual pharmacies. Due to safety requirements, some medications are dispensed as originally packaged by the manufacturer and we cannot make adjustments to the packaged quantity or otherwise open or split packages to create 30, and 90-day supplies of those medications. In most cases, refills cannot be obtained until 75% of the prescription has been used. Controlled substances cannot be refilled until 80% of the prescription has been used. Controlled substances are medications that can cause physical and mental dependence, and have restrictions on how they can be filled and refilled. They are regulated and classified by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) based on how likely they are to cause dependence. Call us or visit our website if you have any questions about dispensing limits. Please note that in the event of a national or other emergency, or if you are a reservist or National Guard member who is called to active military duty, you should contact us regarding your prescription drug needs.
- Important contact information
FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program: 888-338-7737, TTY 711
Prior Approval
You must make sure that your physician obtains prior approval for certain prescription drugs and supplies in order to use your prescription drug coverage. In providing prior approval, we may limit benefits to quantities prescribed in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical, dental, or psychiatric practice in the United States. Our prior approval process may include step therapy, which requires you to use a generic and/or preferred medication(s) before a non-preferred medication is covered. Prior approval must be renewed periodically. To obtain a list of these drugs and supplies and to obtain prior approval request forms, call the FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program at 888-338-7737, TTY: 711. You can also obtain the list of forms through our website at www.fepblue.org. Please read Section 3 for more information about prior approval.
Notes:
You must make sure that your physician obtains prior approval for certain prescription drugs and supplies in order to use your prescription drug coverage. In providing prior approval, we may limit benefits to quantities prescribed in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical, dental, or psychiatric practice in the United States. Our prior approval process may include step therapy, which requires you to use a generic and/or preferred medication(s) before a non-preferred medication is covered. Prior approval must be renewed periodically. To obtain a list of these drugs and supplies and to obtain prior approval request forms, call the FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program at 888-338-7737, TTY: 711. You can also obtain the list of forms through our website at www.fepblue.org. Please read Section 3 for more information about prior approval.
Notes:
- Updates to the list of drugs and supplies requiring prior approval are made periodically during the year. New drugs and supplies may be added to the list and prior approval criteria may change. Changes to the prior approval list or to prior approval criteria are not considered benefit changes.
- If your prescription requires prior approval and you have not yet obtained prior approval, you must pay the full cost of the drug or supply at the time of purchase and file a claim with the Retail Pharmacy Program to be reimbursed. Please refer to Section 7 for instructions on how to file prescription drug claims.
- It is your responsibility to know the prior approval authorization expiration date for your medication. We encourage you to work with your physician to obtain prior approval renewal in advance of the expiration date.