Spring 2023

‘Tis the season for a fresh start

People have a natural tendency to stash unused or expired medications in their medicine cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind, right? While this may seem harmless, this is a dangerous practice that could put you or your loved ones in harm’s way. Unneeded medications left in an easily accessible area – such as a medicine cabinet – could lead to misuse, either accidental or intentional.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has authorized bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, taking place in April and October, which educate and encourage the community to remove unneeded medications from their homes.

There are a number of resources locally and nationwide that provide safe and convenient means for medication disposal. Taking the appropriate steps and following protocol are paramount to keep you, your loved ones, and your community safe from misuse.

• The best way to get rid of unused or expired medications is to drop them off at any authorized collection site. 
• If there are no collection sites in your area or you are unable to drive, you can safely discard of these medications in your own home by carefully following the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Consult the FDA’s Flush List for those that you may flush down the toilet.
    
  • If your medication is not on the Flush List, you may follow these steps to safely discard of it in your household trash.

According to the DEA, last year’s National Take Back Day’s combined efforts yielded the disposal of over  1,300,000 pounds of prescription medications. We urge you to join this initiative and ensure your spring cleaning efforts include your medicine cabinet to remove the risk of accidental or intentional misuse in your home. For more information about medication disposal, or to learn more about the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, visit the DEA’s website.

A change in temperature gives way to seasonal allergies

The arrival of spring delivers long-awaited warmer weather, but for nearly 25 million Americans it also marks the beginning of seasonal allergies.

Seasonal allergies are triggered by environmental substances such as tree pollen and grass pollen. These substances, called allergens for those affected, are especially prevalent in the spring and summer months. Symptoms of seasonal allergies may include sneezing, coughing, runny eyes or nose, and itchy or watery eyes. These symptoms, while burdensome, are usually not severe and can in most cases be alleviated with over the counter (OTC) medications called antihistamines.

Antihistamines are available in oral tablets as well as liquids in the form of nasal sprays and eyedrops. There are a number of brand name and generic antihistamines that come highly recommended for long-acting relief, such as Zyrtec® (Cetirizine), Allegra® (Fexofenadine), Claritin® (Loratadine), Astepro® (Azelastine), and Zaditor® (Ketotifen).

For most, antihistamines are effective in managing seasonal allergy symptoms, but there are proactive steps you can take to mitigate symptoms as well.

• Check pollen count early and often.
  • In times of high pollen count, do your best to reduce periods of outdoor exposure, and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
• If using an air conditioner in your home, be vigilant in changing its filter. Air conditioner filters trap pollen spores which will trigger symptoms if not replaced regularly.

As always, consult your doctor or pharmacist with questions regarding allergy medications. If OTC medications are not providing relief, consider making an appointment with your health care provider or seeking a referral to an allergy specialist for testing and a treatment plan that is right for you.

PBD’s commitment to serve our members and clients is the driving force of all we do. While our associates strive to deliver exceptional service, there are many moving parts and external factors that inevitably cause issues from time to time. Our team recognizes that these issues require fast action and informed decision-making.

Recently, our Help Desk received a call from a mother with a rejected claim for Lansoprazole, a medication commonly indicated to treat certain stomach and esophagus problems in infants. Upon escalation, our Prior Authorization team recognized that the claim was rejected because the compound kit was being billed rather than the covered product. Our Prior Authorization associate promptly called the provider to advise of the circumstance, at which point they were able to send a new prescription. The pharmacy had a paid claim within hours of the initial outreach, a terrific outcome for a mother in need.

Each of our associates recognize that being entrusted with something as important as our clients’ and members’ prescription needs is a great responsibility! We are committed to continuous improvement and will always work hard to provide excellent service while maintaining a safe and effective standard of care.

Our Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee,which is made up of 14 participating physicians and 4 network community pharmacists, meets quarterly to review and make changes to the drug formulary. All drug tier decisions made by the committee are based on efficacy and safety first, and economic value only after clinical effectiveness has been determined.

Here are changes to the Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions drug formulary that were recommended by the P&T Committee at its February 2023 meeting:

The following medications were added to the formulary:

The following changes were/will be made to the formulary:

• budesonide delayed release capsules – remove PA
• Kristalose® - move to NF
• Millipred® - move to NF
• Bonjesta® - move to NF

The following new generic medications are available:

The following medications were reviewed and will remain non-formulary:

• methylphenidate ER osmotic
• oxybutynin oral solution

The following medications were reviewed and will be covered as a medical benefit:

• Elahere® - PA, SP
• Lunsumio® - PA, SP
• Sunlenca® injection
• Rebyota® - PA, SP
• Briumvi® - PA, SP
• Hemgenix® - PA, SP
• Tzield® - PA, SP

Please reach out with any questions you may have. To best assist you, choose from the following:

Questions about your pharmacy benefits as a PBD member? Contact Member Services, 1-888-878-9172.

Questions about a claim from a pharmacy or provider? Contact our Pharmacy Help Desk, (716) 635-3578.

Questions about the benefits of partnering with PBD? Contact our Sales Department, (716) 860-0743.

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