US Script Welcomes
US Script is excited to welcome new Clients Meyer Trucking, Parker County Hospital District, and Panola County Indigent Healthcare Program and County Jail. “US Script has designed programs with our customers in mind. We strive to partner with the client to help control costs, maximize clinical strategies and assist Clients to stay within or below their budget costs,” said Melissa Daniels, Director of Client Services, Behavioral Health Division. “Our priority is to listen to our clients needs, implement strategies to assist with effective outcomes and lower the clients overall costs.”
US Script Takes On D.0
US Script is in the middle of completing a mandatory systems upgrade that comes along once in a great while. Known by the industry as D.0 and pronounced “D-Dot-Zero”, “D-Dot-Oh”, or “D-Zero” (depending on who you ask), it is a small name that carries significant weight for US Script and many of its partners. The D.0 upgrade not only has substantial compliance implications, it touches nearly every part of US Script’s PBM platform from electronic claim adjudication to online reports.
In January 2009, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule to adopt a set of new electronic pharmacy transactions standards1. All Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities, including pharmacies, payers and software vendors, are required to adopt these standards by January 1, 2012. Within this set of standards is the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) Telecommunications Standard.
The NCPDP Telecommunications Standard, also known as the “pharmacy claim standard”, provides a single format for the electronic submission of drug claims. According to NCPDP2, “the development of the standard was to accommodate the eligibility verification process at the point-of-sale and to provide a consistent format for electronic claims processing.” To provide a mechanism for consistency, this format is also recommended for other types of electronic communication of claims between payers, pharmacies, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators.
US Script, along with the vast majority of providers and payers, currently uses the pharmacy claim standard version 5.1 for point-of-sale transactions and reporting, update, and export processes. Version 5.1 was approved by NCPDP back in September of 1999 and was adopted by HIPAA in October of 2003. NCPDP has since drafted standards all the way through versions 6, 7, 8, 9, into A, B, C and then D, which is finally where HHS has decided to put a new version into action…with D.0.
NCPDP version D.0 addresses several specific business needs – many of which have roots in Medicare Part D plan requirements. Along with new Medicare D elements, D.0 brings changes to compounds, corrections to pricing guidelines, and clarification to Coordination of Benefits (COB). Version D.0 also increased the Prescription/Service Reference number, also known as the “RX Number”, from 7 to 12 digits.
As US Script prepares for D.0, the project team has been reaching out to clients and vendors to coordinate testing and implementation timelines. Providers have also begun contacting US Script in order to fully test the ability of their newly upgraded systems. Incremental changes are being rolled out now, and testing is expected to continue through the end of the third quarter. Please contact US Script for more information about NCPDP D.0 or other HIPAA standards.
Past News & Events
May 23, 2011 – May 24, 2011
Second Annual Native American Health Care Conference
Treasure Island Hotel – Las Vegas, NV
February 16 – 18, 2011
Scottsdale, AZ. US Script will be attending the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute’s Annual Drug Benefit Conference. This conference brings together professionals from PBMs from all over the Country and provides a forum for addressing trends and key issues facing the industry. Additional information can be found at http://www.pbmi.com.
February 22 – 24, 2011
Las Vegas, NV. US Script is proud to be a sponsor of the Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA) Executive Forum, taking place at Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas, NV. This forum focuses on best practices for Third Party Administrators.
January 31 – February 1, 2011
Clearwater Beach, FL. US Script exhibited at the 20th Annual National Health Benefits Conference Expo, held at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. This conference will address important cost issues facing American employers and includes speakers from such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control, Whirlpool, Ironworkers Fund, and the University of Iowa. More information can be found at http://www.hbce.com.
January 23 – 25, 2011
Las Vegas, NV. US Script exhibited at the 8th Annual “Made in America” Taft-Hartley Benefit Fund.
January 20, 2011
Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) has published an article on the potential cost savings available to states who carve-in their pharmacy benefit. New Study Shows Large-Scale State Medicaid Savings by Adopting Pharmacy Carve-In Model
January 1, 2011
Fresno, CA. US Script is pleased to be providing pharmacy benefit management services to Magnolia Health Plan (Magnolia). Magnolia provides services to Mississippi Medicaid beneficiaries included in the targeted populations for the MississippiCAN program including:
- SSI
- Department of Human Services Foster Care Children
- Breast/Cervical Cancer Group
- Working Disabled
- Disabled Child Living at Home
On December 30, 2010 the Ritedose Corporation announced the voluntary nationwide recall of 0.083% Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution due to mislabeled unit dose vials.
As your partner in member safety, the US Script FDA Alert and Recall Team met to review this voluntary recall notice. The FDA press release states the following:
- This product is being recalled because the 2.5 mg/3 mL single use vials are marked with the wrong dose of 5.0 mg/3 mL, and therefore, represents a potential significant health hazard.
- The following lot numbers manufactured by The Ritedose Corporation under NDC: 0591-3797-83, 0591-3797-30, and 0591-3797-60 are included in the recall: 0N81, 0N82, 0N83, 0N84, 0N87, 0N88, 0N89, 0NF0, 0P12, 0P13, 0P46, 0P47, 0PF0, and 0S15. No other Albuterol formulations or products are included in this recall.
- Those currently taking 0.083% Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 3mL should discontinue use and switch to an alternative asthma treatment and maintenance medication.
To report any side effects with 0.083% Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 3mL contact the FDA's MedWatch program.
For more information regarding this recall, please visit the FDA's safety information.
Fresno, CA: US Script is excited to announce the addition of two new Clients, Celtic Insurance Company and CeltiCare Health Plan. US Script’s full suite of PBM services tailors to a diverse range of clients with innovative products and services. Clients gain access to dependable pharmacy benefits experts and enjoy the highest level of customer service with a personal touch.
In May 2009, US Script welcomed Celtic Insurance Company insureds from across the country. Celtic is well known for specializing in quality individual health insurance and offers a wide-range of benefits and options to meet the diverse needs of people in rural, suburban and urban areas. Celtic is one of the most successful specialty health insurance companies in the country. For more information on Celtic Insurance Company visit their website at www.celtic-net.com.
In July 2009, CeltiCare Health Plan became the newest client to partner with US Script. CeltiCare is part of Massachusetts' progressive healthcare system geared at providing quality, affordable health options to underserved residents of Massachusetts. CeltiCare will offer the full spectrum of CommChoice benefit plans starting in January 2010, including Gold, Silver, Bronze and Young Adults health plans to individuals and families throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. For more information on CeltiCare Health Plan visit their website at www.celticarehealthplan.com.
Since US Script’s founding in 1999, we have represented a wide array of clients covering a broad range of health insurance markets.
We are pleased to have both Celtic and CeltiCare join our distinguished list of clients.
Upcoming Events:
6/15/2011 – 6/17/2011
AHIP
Moscone West – San Francisco, CA
6/26/2011 – 6/29/2011
SHRM
Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV
Visit the US Script Booth!
7/13/2011 – 7/15/2011
HCAA - Health Care Administrators Association - TPA University
Hilton San Diego Bay Front – San Diego, CA
