Citi Benefits Handbook
Step Therapy
A step therapy program is a "step" approach to providing prescription drug coverage. Step therapy is designed to encourage the use of cost-effective prescription drugs when appropriate. To determine whether your prescription qualifies for step therapy or is subject to limitations, call CVS Caremark at 1 (844) 214-6601. Participation in this program is optional.
If you have a discontinuance or lapse in therapy (typically more than 130 days) while using the brand-name medication and need to restart therapy, you will be subject to another review under the step therapy program to determine whether the cost of the brand-name medication will be covered under the Program. There is no minimum age requirement for step therapy.
Here's how step therapy works:
1. A member presents a prescription for a drug requiring step therapy at a retail pharmacy or via Mail Service.
2. The pharmacist enters the prescription information into the CVS Caremark information system.
3. The claim is submitted for processing — the CVS Caremark system automatically looks back at the member's claim history to see if the member had a prescription filled in that time period (typically 130 days) for the alternative drug.
4. If a claim for an alternative, lower cost drug is found, the claim will automatically process.
5. If there is no history of a prescription filled for an alternative drug, the prescription claim is rejected.
6. The pharmacist can either contact the member's physician to see if an alternative drug is acceptable or advise the member to contact his/her physician.
7. The physician can provide a prescription for an alternative drug. If the physician strongly feels that the original drug prescribed will best treat the member's condition, then he or she can submit a prior authorization request. If the request meets the clinical criteria, the originally prescribed drug will be covered.
8. A notification will be sent to both the member and physician regarding whether the request has been approved or denied.
Call CVS Caremark at 1 (844) 214-6601 or www.caremark.com to obtain information about whether your medication requires step therapy and/or about the applicable copay for the generic, preferred brand or non-preferred category of drug.