CVS out of preferred network for some Blue Cross plans; 390,000 Alabamians affected

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CVS pharmacy

Some Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBS-AL) customers who get their prescriptions from CVS will soon have to pay full price for their prescriptions or find another local pharmacy for their insurance to help cover the cost.

As of January 1, CVS is no longer in the preferred network for certain BCBS plans.

BCBS-AL and its pharmacy benefit manager, Prime Therapeutics, made the change when they developed new preferred pharmacy networks in 2016. They claim the change will affect roughly 13 percent, or 390,000, of their 2.9 million customers in the Yellowhammer State.

“This change was made to help offset the continuous rise in prescription drug costs,” said Koko Mackin, vice president of corporate communications and community relations for Blue Cross. “The new pharmacy networks will provide the best medications for the best price.”

Mackin said CVS is the only national chain not participating in the new networks.

The network change does not affect Medicare members who have Blue Advantage, Blue Rx and/or C Plus coverage.