By Gary Pitts
Frankfort, KY – Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Walgreens Pharmacies have not been able to come to an agreement on a contract extension. That means as of January 1st, Kentucky's largest insurance provider will no longer cover prescriptions filled at the nation's largest pharmacy chain. Contract negotiations between Anthem's pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts, and Walgreens fell apart in late June, and there seems to be little chance of a deal at this point. But, while many may see this as a great inconvenience, the Kentucky Department of Insurance says Anthem members will still have adequate access to pharmacies.
"The Department of Insurance doesn't get involved in provider contract issues or negotiations, but we are concerned with looking at provider networks to make sure those are adequate. And we actually have looked at the remaining network, and we've found that consumers will still have access to an adequate number of pharmacies, even if Walgreens is no longer available."
That was DOI spokesperson Ronda Sloan. She says as long Anthem members live or work within thirty minutes and/or thirty miles of a provider pharmacy, they are considered to have adequate access. So with Walgreens' 95 locations out of the question, Anthem's Kentucky members will have to find one of the other over 1,200 pharmacies in the state to fill their prescription.