Background

On January 1, 2019, AlaskaCare changed its pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to Optum Rx. Optum Rx now manages the pharmacy benefit for all our members, including retail, mail order and specialty prescription drugs, claims processing, and prior authorization requests for prescription medications.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

• General
• Mail Order
• Specialty Pharmacy
• Prior Authorization

General

• How do I contact Optum Rx?
  

  Optum Rx’s pharmacy health care advisors are ready to answer your questions. Call them toll-free at (855) 409-6999 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

  You can also access Optum Rx online through a member portal. To create your individual account, go to Optum Rx.com or download the Optum Rx mobile app.

  
  
• Will I receive a new member ID card?
  

  Yes. Optum Rx mailed new ID cards prior to going live on January 1, 2019. This pharmacy benefit card will be an addition to the Aetna card you use for medical services. Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents will receive a separate, individual ID card for their non-Medicare-eligible covered family members. If you did not receive your new ID card, please contact Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999.

• What if I need to fill a prescription after January 1, 2019, and have not yet received my new ID card?

  You can go to Optum Rx.com> to register on the online member portal or download the mobile app to view and print a temporary copy of your ID card. You can also call Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 for assistance.

• With Optum Rx, can I continue to go to the same pharmacy?
  

  You will have access to the Optum Rx home delivery pharmacy or thousands of retail pharmacies—including all large national chains—and many local pharmacies. To find a network pharmacy in your area, use the online pharmacy locator tool , or go to Optum Rx.com to register in the online member portal or download the mobile app to access the pharmacy locator tool. You can also call Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 for assistance.

• How will I fill a prescription at a retail pharmacy?
  

  To fill a prescription after January 1, 2019, just present your Optum Rx ID card at the pharmacy counter. If you use a network pharmacy, your insurance information will be entered, and you will pay your share of the cost.

  If you use a pharmacy that is not part of the network, you will need to pay the pharmacy up front and submit a Direct Member Reimbursement request to Optum Rx for reimbursement. You can find the Direct Member Reimbursement form here.

• What if my prescriptions have expired?
  

  You will need to obtain a new prescription from your doctor, and either bring the written prescription with you to the pharmacy or have your doctor send the prescription to Optum Rx’s Home Delivery pharmacy. Instructions on how to have your doctor send new prescriptions to Optum Rx’s Home Delivery pharmacy were included in the Welcome Kit you received at the end of November along with your ID card. You can call Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 if you would like to have Optum Rx assist you in contacting your doctor to obtain a new prescription for home delivery.

• What if I am taking a controlled substance?
  

  If you are taking a controlled substance, you may need to obtain a prior authorization in order to continue use of your medication. Please contact Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 to determine if you will need a prior authorization for your controlled substance. Optum Rx can assist you with contacting your doctor to initiate the prior authorization process.

  If you are taking a controlled substance and would like to have it delivered to your home from Optum Rx’s Home Delivery pharmacy, your doctor must send a new prescription to Optum Rx. Instructions on how to have your doctor send new prescriptions to Optum Rx’s Home Delivery pharmacy will be included in the Welcome Kit you will receive at the end of November along with your ID card. You can also contact Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 and they can assist in contacting your doctor for a new prescription.

• Will I be able to see my pharmacy benefit information online?
  

  Yes. After the plan moves to Optum Rx, you will be able to access your prescription and home delivery information online at Optum Rx.com or through the mobile app.

• How do I file a paper claim?
  

  After January 1, 2019, Optum Rx will process paper claims (also known as Direct Member Reimbursement requests) for prescriptions paid out-of-pocket at a non-participating pharmacy. A paper claim form will be included in the Welcome Kit from Optum Rx and will also be available online. Please call Optum Rx if you need assistance completing the form. Submit a completed form to Optum Rx using the address listed on the form. If you have paper claims for prescriptions filled prior to January 1, please forward to Aetna for processing.

• Will Optum Rx force me to change my prescription?
  

  No. All your medications will continue to be covered under your AlaskaCare health plan. If you are a member of the Employee Health Plan or the Defined Contribution Retiree Health Plan, there could be changes to the amount you pay for your prescriptions due to classification of brand name drugs as preferred or non-preferred, or you may have to obtain prior authorization for certain medications. If you will be impacted by changes to classification of brand name drugs or new prior authorization requirements, you will receive a letter in early December indicating the impacted medications, what the changes are, and instructions on the next steps you can take.

• I am a member of the Defined Benefit retiree health plan. Will the coverage of compound medication change when Optum Rx becomes the new Pharmacy Benefit Manager?
  

  No. Optum Rx will process claims according to the AlaskaCare plan document. Compounds will continue to be covered under the Defined Benefit Retiree Health plan.

  Coverage of compounds differs for the active employee and defined contribution retiree health plans. The AlaskaCare Employee Health Plan and AlaskaCare DCR Benefit Plan only cover compound drugs if:

  1. the product contains at least one prescription ingredient;
  2. the active ingredient(s) is approved by the FDA for medicinal use in the United States;
  3. the product is not a copy of a commercially available FDA approved drug; and
  4. the safety and effectiveness for the intended use is supported by FDA approval, or adequate medical and scientific evidence in the medical literature.

  Optum Rx maintains a National Compound Credentialing Program (NCCP) to ensure the best compounded medication quality and effectiveness for the patients who need personalized medications. If you are receiving your compounded medications through a pharmacy outside of Alaska, you must fill your prescription at a pharmacy which has been credentialed with the Optum Rx National Compound Credentialing Program (NCCP). Using an NCCP pharmacy ensures that you will not be charged up front for your prescription (and required to submit your own claim for reimbursement), you will not be charged for molding or other non-covered charges, and you will not be charged for shipping if the pharmacy mails your compounded medication to you. You can find a list of NCCP credentialed pharmacies here . You can also call Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 (TTY 711) to get help locating NCCP-credentialed pharmacies.

• I received a letter from Optum Rx asking me to confirm my enrollment in the AlaskaCare Retiree Medicare Prescription Drug Plan within 30 days. The bottom of the letter has this document code: S8841_19_EXH-5_AKC. What should I do next?
  

  You received this letter because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS or Medicare) indicated that you have alternative prescription drug coverage under another plan that may be receiving subsidies from Medicare for providing that coverage. We encourage members to confirm enrollment in the AlaskaCare Retiree Medicare Prescription Drug Plan by calling Optum Rx at (855) 235-1405. If you do not confirm your enrollment, or choose not to participate in the AlaskaCare Retiree Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you will be placed into the opt-out prescription drug program. This is highly discouraged, as it will result in higher costs for you and for the health plan. Please see section 1.2.2 of the AlaskaCare Retiree Insurance Information Booklet for more information on the opt-out benefit.

Mail Order

• Will I need to submit a new prescription to Optum Rx Home Delivery Service?
  

  On January 1, 2019, most home delivery prescriptions with remaining refills were automatically transferred to Optum Rx from Aetna mail order delivery. Members will have to set up their account and, if applicable, enter a payment option to pay the charges before their medication ships. Prescriptions for certain medications did not transfer, for example, controlled substances and expired prescriptions. In these cases, you’ll need a new prescription from your doctor.

• Can I refill my mail order/home delivery prescription automatically with Optum Rx?
  

  Yes, Hassle-Free Fill is the Optum Rx automatic refill program for mail order/home delivery prescriptions. When you sign up for Hassle-Free Fill, Optum Rx will:

  • call to notify you that your medication will ship soon (unless you cancel within three business days of the refill notice),
  • deliver your medication to the address on file with no shipping charge for standard delivery, and
  • bill your credit card for any copayment, coinsurance or amount due.
• How do I enroll in Hassle-Free Fill?
  

  Log in to your online account, set up a payment method, and select which medications you want to fill automatically. You can also call Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 and they can help you enroll in Hassle-Free Fill.

• How does Optum Rx home delivery work?
  

  Order up to a three-month supply of qualifying medications you take regularly. Submit your order by phone, mail, online or through the mobile app.

  Optum Rx fills your order, mails it to you and lets you know when to expect your delivery. You can track your delivery through the online member portal or mobile app.

• How do I order my prescriptions from Optum Rx home delivery?
  

  There are four ways to place a home delivery order:

  • Online. Sign in at the website on the back of your member ID card or open the mobile app.
  • ePrescription. Your doctor can send an electronic prescription to Optum Rx.
  • Phone. Call the toll-free number on the back of your member ID card.
  • Mail. Download a form from alaskacare.gov. Then complete and mail it to Optum Rx with your prescription.
• Once I place a mail order/home delivery order, how quickly will I get my medication?
  

  New prescription orders are delivered by standard U.S. mail and arrive about 10 business days from the date Optum Rx receives the order. Refills normally arrive within 7 business days.

• Will medications be sent express mail?
  

  Optum Rx ships medication through the U.S. Postal Service, with the exception of expedited shipping for medications that require special handling. You can upgrade to express or overnight shipping at your own expense.

• I was using Aetna’s mail order/home delivery. How can I make sure my medication transitioned to Optum Rx?
  

  On January 1, 2019, most home delivery prescriptions with remaining refills were automatically transferred from Aetna mail order delivery to Optum Rx Home Delivery. Prescriptions for certain medications did not transfer, such as controlled substances and expired prescriptions. In these cases, you’ll need a new prescription from your doctor.

• Will my billing information also transfer to Optum Rx?
  

  No. We know how important it is to keep personal information safe. Before we can ship your first home delivery order, you must set up your credit card or billing preference with Optum Rx. You can set up these preferences via the online member portal, mobile app, or by calling Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999.

Specialty Pharmacy

• Who is BriovaRx®?
  

  BriovaRx is the Optum Rx specialty pharmacy. Their patient care coordinators and pharmacists are highly trained to understand your specialty medication needs. BriovaRx will replace the Aetna specialty pharmacy, Costco, and Diplomat options that were previously treated as “mail order” for purposes of member copay. Members may still use these other specialty pharmacies, but retail copay charges will apply.

• How will I receive my specialty medication from BriovaRx?
  

  Optum Rx will ship your medication wherever you need it when it is ready to be refilled—in safe, temperature-controlled, and tested packaging—and shipping is at no cost to you.

• Will my specialty medication automatically transfer to BriovaRx?
  

  If you are covered under the AlaskaCare employee plan, then yes, open refills of your specialty prescription will automatically transfer from Aetna Specialty Pharmacy to BriovaRx, Optum Rx’s specialty pharmacy.

  Similarly, if you are NOT eligible for Medicare and are enrolled in one of the AlaskaCare retiree plans, your prescriptions will be automatically transferred.

  However, if you are Medicare-eligible and are enrolled in one of the AlaskaCare retiree plans, your specialty medication will not automatically transfer to the Optum Rx specialty pharmacy. Per Medicare regulations, we are restricted from transferring prescriptions from your current specialty pharmacy, including the Aetna Specialty Pharmacy.

  However, you are encouraged to have your specialty medication transferred to BriovaRx after January 1, 2019. Call a BriovaRx representative at 1-855-4BRIOVA to enroll. You can also register online at briovarx.com/newpatient . BriovaRx representatives will contact your doctor and take care of everything else.

• What if I don’t transfer my specialty medication to BriovaRx?
  

  BriovaRx is the only specialty pharmacy that is considered a mail-order pharmacy by AlaskaCare. If you do not transfer your specialty prescription to BriovaRx, the plan will continue to cover your specialty medication. However, the pharmacy will be considered a retail pharmacy and you will be responsible to pay the retail prescriptions copayment as outlined in your health plan. If the specialty pharmacy you are using is out-of-network, you will be required to pay for the medication up front and submit for reimbursement.

Prior Authorization

• Will I need to get a new prior authorization if I just received one through Aetna?
  

  In most cases, if your drug was previously approved under AlaskaCare by Aetna through a date after December 31, 2018, that approval will be transmitted to Optum Rx to continue coverage of the drug through the date specified.

  If you are a Medicare-eligible retiree, there are some medications for which you will need a new prior authorization. You will receive a letter indicating if prior authorization is needed for your medication for coverage under Medicare Part D. If your medication is not approved for prior authorization under Medicare Part D, then it will be covered under the enhanced wrap benefits.