Clinical News

from Express Scripts

ESI National Preferred formulary Top 20 Deletions

January 1, 2005

Formulary Update - Formulary Status Changes

Glucophage^® XR 750 mg Formulary Status Change

Celexa^® Tablets, Neurontin^® Capsules/Tablets, and Ocuflox^® Ophthalmic Solution

Take Your Medications Safely

The right prescription drugs can lead to a longer, healthier life. But it’s also important to understand possible side effects and drug interactions. To learn more about your prescription drugs, explore the drug information at Express-Scripts.com. You’ll find personalized, helpful information on:

• Possible side effects from your medications

• Potential interactions between your prescription drugs, vitamin supplements and even natural remedies

• And many other drug-related topics

Express-Scripts Update

Bextra & ESI Mail Order Recall Information

Patients that have filled a Bextra prescription at an ESI mail facility and have remaining supply should seek reimbursement through the National Notification Center (NNC) by calling 1-866-608-3935.

NNC will provide each person that calls with a patient return kit. The patient will be expected to return the medication along with a receipt validating their out of pocket expense for purchasing Bextra. The patient return kit will also have some forms to be filled out asking the member for specific details about the prescription they are returning. The member will be refunded an amount prorated from their expense based on the quantity of medication returned.  Please inform your clients of this approach. It is described at www.bextra.com. Should patients forward their prescriptions to ESI directly, we will not be able to process the refunds.

At the retail level, the procedure according to www.bextra.com:

"[Patients] may bring your unused BEXTRA tablets to your local pharmacy and request a refund. Or [patients] may contact the National Notification Center (NNC) at 1-866-608-3935 to receive a patient product return kit by mail. NNC will process your refund on Pfizer's behalf."

This is identical to the process of patient reimbursement used for Vioxx, except that NNC is handling the process