CVS Caremark Awarded Pharmacy Contract

February 16, 2010: The state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC) has voted to contract with CVS Caremark as the agency's new pharmacy benefits manager. The three-year contact will take affect on July 1, 2010.

CVS Caremark replaces longtime pharmacy manager Express Scripts, which has held the GIC contract to provide drug benefits under the Indemnity, OME and other UniCare plans for the past eight years. GIC officials believe that CVS Caremark is better suited to provide pharmacy benefits management and enhanced services.

National Coalition Eyes Senate Action 

NOVEMBER 10, 2009: With Medicare Part B rates set to increase by over 14% in 2010 for those who pay the premium directly or just recently enrolled in the federal program, the Association is urging our state's Congressional delegation to quickly pass H.R. 3631. The bill would freeze the Medicare Part B premium at the current $96.40 monthly premium.

Medicare officials recently announced that the 2010 monthly premium would increase to $110.50 for retirees who do not receive a Social Security benefit and therefore are not included under the so-called "hold harmless" law. Medicare enrollees, who receive Social Security benefits, will not see an increase in their Part B premium, due to the fact that their will not be a 2010 Social Security COLA.

Members Seek Answers On Local Impact

AUGUST 1, 2009: As President Barack Obama attempts to advance his healthcare reform initiative, Association members are left wondering how they may be impacted by a national insurance plan. The rhetoric and confusion being generated in Washington as to details of the various reform proposals has led to fear and anxiety amongst public retirees over the future of their own health insurance plans.

While the Association has not taken a position on the President's proposal, we have been closely monitoring developments and studying the mountains of information coming out of Washington. As it now stands, the state-run Group Insurance Commission plans and local insurance plans (Blue Cross, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, etc) are not directly impacted by the federal reform proposals.

Emergency Room Payments Remain at $25

MAY 2009: Retirees insured under the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) and enrolled in the Medicare supplement plans  will not be subject to the new $75 radiology copayment that takes effect on July 1. In addition, GIC officials have opted to maintain the current emergency room copayments for Medicare retirees, instead of the new $75 copayment being charged to enrollees of the non Medicare insurance plans

In the May edition of the Voice, the Association incorrectly reported that the increased copayments applied to Medicare retirees enrolled under the OME Plan, Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Compliment. While these changes were considered by the GIC, the 15-member Commission opted not to include the OME Plan in the new radiology copayment or higher ER copayment. Further information on the state’s new insurance rates and plan designs can be found on the GIC’s website.

Defends PRIT’s Investment Record

FEBRUARY 5, 2009: Much has been made about the investment loss of the Commonwealth’s Pension Reserves Investment Trust (PRIT) Fund in Year 2008.

Overall, the Fund lost $15.9 billion in 2008, falling from $53.7 billion to $37.8 billion, a 29.4 percent fall.