The Empire Plan is a unique health insurance plan designed especially for public employees in New York State. Empire Plan benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, medical/surgical coverage, Centers of Excellence for transplants, infertility and cancer, home care services, equipment and supplies, mental health and substance abuse coverage and prescription drug coverage.
GEORGE E. PATAKI
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
DANIEL E. WALL
COMMISSIONER
JOHN F. BARR
EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
PE05-23
PA05-23
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Employers; Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Agencies;
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Empire Plan Special Rx Report
DATE: November 7, 2005
Empire Plan Special Report on The Prescription Drug Program for 2006
A special report has been prepared to introduce the new Empire Plan Prescription Drug vendor – Empire BlueCross BlueShield/Caremark – and to send the 2006 Empire Plan Preferred Drug List (PDL) to enrollees and agencies.
Prescription Drug Program Changes
This publication explains the similarities and changes to The Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program effective January 1, 2006.
Articles in The Empire Plan Special Report on The Prescription Drug Program include:
The Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program - January 1, 2006; What’s New, What’s the Same; No New Benefit Card; January Reminders; How to Use the Prescription Drug Program; Controlling Your Prescription Drug Costs; Questions and Answers; When You Call; Your First Visit to a Participating Pharmacy after January 1, 2006; and New Addresses You Need to Know.
2006 Empire Plan Preferred Drug List
An updated list of the most commonly prescribed generic and brand-name drugs; not the complete list.
Distribution of Reports
The Special Report will be mailed to enrollee homes in November. We will send you a supply equal to 2 percent of your enrollment. Please give to new hires and new retirees.
You will also be receiving a supply of the stand-alone preferred drug list from Empire BlueCross BlueShield/Caremark.
Publications available on our web site: www.cs.state.ny.us
Please check this web site for new publications. We generally post publications when we sign off for printing. That means you can see the publications before enrollees start receiving them.
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of the Special Report by using the Publications Supply Order Forms enclosed with your shipment. Or, instead of faxing the form you may order on PA-MARKET. From the homepage, open Publications & Forms, then open NYSHIP Publication Order Forms. If you need help accessing PA-MARKET, please call the Help Desk or your processor. Please wait until you receive your shipment before you place an order.
If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.