Mary Jordan: Questions for STRS on Rx

From Mary Jordan, June 13, 2006

Dear Mr. Russell,

I am not sure if you are the correct person to whom I should send these concerns. If not, please forward them on to the correct person(s).

I am confused about the proposed changes to STRS members mail-in prescription drug plan.

First: The proposed increase cost of the tier three medications is 2.5 x retail cost to regain cost neutrality between mail-service and retail costs. Just what does that mean?

Why should we mail in for our prescriptions if the cost is 2.5 times the retail cost at our corner drug store where we can receive the medication immediately?

Second: Do pump inhibitors include Atrovent and Rhinocort which are metered-dose, manual pump sprays? These are used to help control my asthma, which is terrible without them.

Third: Non-sedating antihistamines (e.g. Claritin), are suggested to become tier three also. Claritin has been an over the counter medication for a number of months. Did you perhaps mean Clarinex which is a prescription drug? Since I assume that you gave Claritin just as an example of non-sedating antihistamines, does that mean that you are also planning to move Allegra-D from a tier two to a tier three drug? Allegra –D is used to help control allergy triggered asthma.

If the second and third assumptions are correct, why are those of us who have asthma being hit so hard? If I have to go without any of these medications due to the high costs, I will most likely be making many trips to the emergency room which will greatly increase what is paid out of the medical insurance fund. This really makes no sense as far as I can see.

Moving erectile dysfunction (e.g. Viagra) drugs to Tier 3 copayments does make sense. When compared with drugs to control asthma and other quility of life or even life medical conditions, Viagra is a recreational drug!

Sincerely,

Mary Jordan
Member of CORE
Member of STRS