TO: All County Employees and Under Age 65 Retirees Who Are Enrolled in the “Schenectady Meds” Prescription Drug Program

The list of medications available from CanaRx (the CanaRx “formulary”) will be changing as of SEPTEMBER 1, 2012. The new formulary is available for download on this site by selecting the “Printable Forms” tab on the following page. Select “List of Medications Available” to open a PDF version of the new formulary or click here.

This change in formularies is being made as part of Schenectady County’s continuing effort to maximize savings, and to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We are still providing access to CanaRx for an extensive list of maintenance medications, but we are revising the a list as we continue to seek the lowest cost alternative.

PLEASE REVIEW THE FORMULARY CAREFULLY

• The list reflects the actual strengths that will be available for each different medication

• If your maintenance medication, or the specific strength you have been prescribed, will not be available from CanaRx on/after SEPTEMBER 1, 2012, your lowest cost option is to order through Express Scripts mail order – you’ll be charged one base copay for a 90-day supply. If you purchase these medications at a local pharmacy, however, you will be charged your full penalty copay.

• For any medication that is not on the new formulary:

  • CanaRx will not be filling brand new scripts (for medications you would be ordering for the first time through CanaRx) that are received on/after SEPTEMBER 1, 2012.

  • CanaRx will not be processing any refills (for medications you have been ordering through CanaRx) on/after SEPTEMBER 1, 2012.

Other Notes and Reminders

• Neither CanaRx nor Express Scripts can accept “old” prescriptions. The following examples will help you understand what your next steps are based on your individual circumstances:
  

  • if you are currently using a medication that you have ordered through CanaRx in the past and it will no longer be available through CanaRx and you still have refills remaining…
    
    …get a new prescription from your physician (90-day script with 3 refills), and then send that prescription to Express Scripts Mail Order.
    

  • if you are currently using a medication that you have ordered through Express Scripts in the past and it will now be available through CanaRx and you still have refills remaining…
    
    …get a new prescription from your physician (90-day script with 3 refills), and then send that new prescription to CanaRx.
    

• If you haven’t used CanaRx before, enrolling is easy. Just download and complete the form(s) from this website (one for you and a separate one for each eligible dependent) and fax/mail them to CanaRx per the instructions on the form.

• These changes will not take effect until SEPTEMBER 1, 2012. If you are going to be switching vendors (from CanaRx to ESI Mail, or vice versa) for any of your maintenance medications, you will have to time the mailing of the new script(s) so that they are received on/after SEPTEMBER 1, 2012.

• The mailing addresses are:

• As always, your CanaRx orders can be faxed in directly from your provider’s office using the toll-free CanaRx fax number: 1-866-715-6337. However, if your provider will not fax your orders, you’ll have to mail the original script(s) to CanaRx at the above address.

• While the CanaRx formularies are changing, our website is still simple to navigate, and still includes other useful program information, a link to forms you can download, and a “contact us” function.

• As always, the SchenectadyMeds Hotline is available as well; call 1-877-505-6337.