You can help patients switch from brand name to generic drugs

When a patient fills a prescription for select brand name medications, our claim processor, Express Scripts, has been faxing Medco Medication Change Authorization forms to doctors if a generic alternative is available. You have three options for responding to the form:

• Don’t do anything. This is simply a notification that your patient could be saving money by filling the generic alternative. If you don’t do anything, your patient will keep filling the brand name medication.
• Talk to your patient about switching to the generic medication, then write a new prescription or call one in to your patient’s pharmacy of choice.
• Complete the Medication Change Authorization form and fax it back to the number listed on the form.

If you return the form, our vendor will send two letters — one to your patient and one to you:

• The letter to your patient will explain your decision and ask the patient to have the pharmacy call you for a new prescription for the generic alternative.
• The letter to you will confirm the change and let you know that the patient will request a prescription for the generic alternative.

Some physicians have been sending new prescriptions for generic alternatives to the Medco Pharmacy without talking to their patients first. Please do not send prescriptions to Medco’s mail-order pharmacy until you confirm that your patient wants to use that pharmacy and is agreeable to using the generic drug. When a patient receives an unwanted prescription from Medco Pharmacy, they cannot return it, and Medco will require payment. Trying to resolve this issue could result in their therapy being disrupted.

If you have any questions, call the Pharmacy Services Clinical Help Desk at 1-800-437-3803.