January 13, 2005, Richardson, Texas – It’s official.  Prime Therapeutics became the new pharmacy benefit manager for Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), effective January 1st.   The change marks a move to ownership by HCSC of its own Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), in order to give HCSC greater flexibility and control over how the pharmacy benefit is designed/managed, ensure safe and effective pharmacy care to its members and more closely align medical and pharmacy cost and quality strategies.

     Prime Therapeutics, a national PBM owned by a number of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, will provide claims processing, formulary management, manufacturer contracting, pharmacy network management, clinical programs and utilization management for retail pharmacy transactions.  Mail service prescriptions will also be filled by Prime Therapeutics’ PrimeMail pharmacy which offers members a complete package including:  cost savings, home delivery, quality medications, timely prescription services, convenient ordering and world-class customer service.

     “We are pleased to reassure our members that the change to our new pharmacy benefit manager will involve only a few simple changes,” says Tom Tran, Pharmacy Programs Director, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  “The changes they notice will primarily be administrative as members receive new ID cards, which will instruct participating pharmacies to submit prescription claim information to Prime Therapeutics.  And, instead of working with outside vendors, we look forward to reaping the benefits of a focus on quality, in-house solutions from a PBM that has a proven track record of focusing on pharmacy management solutions for Blues Plan clients.”

     Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the only statewide, non-investor owned health coverage provider in Texas, serving more than 3.3 million members in all 254 counties.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.