Pharmacy

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) arranges for prescription drug benefits administered by Prime Therapeutics, a company that provides pharmacy benefit management and other related services. These services are designed to work alongside your medical plan, and is designed to help control costs and improve member health. Ask us about the:

• Pharmacy benefit that provides access to covered medications through a broad network of contracting pharmacies, which includes major chains and independent pharmacies.
• Integrated pharmacy, medical programs and drug trend management designed to promote cost-effective health care and appropriate utilization through cost-effective delivery channels.
• Walgreens Alliance^*, Prime’s retail alliance and shared ownership of specialty pharmacy and mail-order services. This means the potential for better prices on specialty drugs with greater insights on member expectations and utilization.

* Prime has entered into an agreement with Walgreens, an independently contracted pharmacy, to form a combined specialty pharmacy and mail order services company, owned by Prime and Walgreens.

Prime Therapeutics LLC is an independent company contracted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to provide pharmacy benefit management and other pharmacy related services. In addition, contracting pharmacies are contracted through Prime. The relationship between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and contracting pharmacies is that of independent contractors. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, as well as several Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, has an ownership interest in Prime Therapeutics.