Health News by Bill McDevitt
Prescription Provider Change: January 1, 2020
OptumRx is replacing Express Scripts as our pharmacy provider effective January 1, 2020. OptumRx will become your pharmacy provider for your retail, mail order and specialty prescriptions.
Allegiant Rx (formerly TeamstersRx) will remain your Pharmacy Benefit Manager. Eligible members and eligible dependents should continue to call Allegiant RX for help with your prescriptions. Allegiant Rx – 1-866-888-0103
Benefits, co-payments, and Member ID numbers are not changing.
Eligible members will receive a Welcome Kit with new OptumRX ID cards in December 2019.
Beginning January 1, 2020, eligible members and dependents should present their new OptumRx ID card to their retail pharmacy the first time they fill or refill a prescription in 2020. Eligible members and dependents should also update their physician’s office for mail-order prescriptions—use OptumRx Mail Order. This information will be in the Welcome Kit.
OptumRx Specialty Pharmacy will become the new specialty pharmacy. Eligible members or dependents who currently have a medication filled by Accredo Specialty Pharmacy will be contacted directly by OptumRx Specialty Pharmacy.
Prescriptions with refills remaining at Express Scripts Mail Order will transfer to OptumRx Mail Order Pharmacy.
Prescription providers use formularies to maximize savings. OptumRx’s formulary is different from Express Scripts’s formulary. A small number of medications included in the present formulary may not be covered after January 1, 2020. If a medication is no longer covered, patients should have received letters in mid-November advising them of their options. As always, patients are encouraged to discuss medication options with their physicians.
The change in pharmacy provider will help contain costs while maintaining or improving the quality of service. Allegiant Rx, OptumRx, and the Fund Office are working to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption.
Reminder: Coverage is available for a 90-day supply of prescription maintenance medications either via mail order or at CVS. Eligible members and dependents should ask their physicians to write a 90-day prescription with three refills.
Pension News
The Trustees of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 35 Pension Fund voted to issue all District Council 35 pensioners and beneficiaries a $600 bonus on December 1, 2019. This extra benefit will be deposited with your regular December 1 benefit. If your pension is subject to a QDRO, the bonus will be apportioned per the terms of the QDRO.
Please note that you must be on the pension rolls as of December 1, 2019, and you must receive a monthly pension benefit directly from the Painters & Allied Trades District Council 35 Pension Fund.
The Trustees thank all retirees for their many years of service and hope this bonus will help during the holiday season.
If you have any questions, please call the Fund Office at 617-524-1240.
