Cigna is Committed to Reducing Opioid Use: Removing OxyContin from Group Commercial Drug Lists on 1/1/18
October 04 2017 - 1:54PM
Business Wire
- Focus is on Aligning Drug Companies
to Cigna's Opioid Reduction Goals
- Value-Based Contract Signed with
Collegium for Xtampza ER, an Oxycodone Equivalent
America’s opioid epidemic is complex, and Cigna (NYSE: CI) has
taken a multi-faceted approach to reducing opioid use among its
customers by 25 percent by 2019. The company’s covered drug lists
are regularly evaluated with an eye to eliminating the
inappropriate use of opioids and assisting customers in safely
achieving positive health results, while also managing their
out-of-pocket costs. As a result of this review, the brand
OxyContin is no longer covered as a preferred option on Cigna's
group commercial drug lists effective January 1, 2018.
“Our focus is on helping customers get the most value from their
medications – this means obtaining effective pain relief while also
guarding against opioid misuse. We continually evaluate the
clinical effectiveness, affordability and safety of all our covered
medications as these characteristics can change over time, and we
make adjustments that we believe will provide better overall value
for those we serve,” says Jon Maesner, PharmD, Cigna's chief
pharmacy officer.
Cigna is in the process of notifying customers with current
OxyContin prescriptions and their doctors of the upcoming change so
that they have time to discuss treatment options and covered
oxycodone clinical alternatives. Cigna customer service
representatives and pharmacists are available 24/7/365 to answer
questions. Customers can simply call the phone number on the back
of their Cigna ID card.
Individuals who have started using OxyContin for hospice care or
cancer treatments will continue to have the medication covered in
2018. As with other medications that are not on covered drug lists,
Cigna will consider approving coverage for OxyContin if a
customer’s doctor feels that treatment using OxyContin is medically
necessary.
Value-Based Opioid
Contract
Cigna is asking opioid manufacturers to align with efforts to
reduce opioid use, and has signed a value-based contract with
Collegium Pharmaceutical for the drug Xtampza® ER, an oxycodone
equivalent with abuse deterrent properties. Xtampza ER's abuse
deterrent platform allows the product to maintain its extended
release profile even when cut, crushed, chewed or otherwise
manipulated. Under the terms of the contract, Collegium is
financially accountable if the average daily dosage strengths of
Xtampza ER prescribed for Cigna customers exceed a specific
threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, Collegium will reduce the
cost of the medication for many of Cigna's benefit plans. Linking
financial terms to dosage metrics may encourage more education to
prevent overprescribing. The contract is effective January 1, 2018
for Cigna's commercial business.
“While drug companies don’t control prescriptions, they can help
influence patient and doctor conversations by educating people
about their medications. The insights we obtain from the metrics in
the new value-based contract will help us continue to evolve our
opioid management strategies to assist our customers and their
doctors,” said Maesner.
Xtampza ER is currently a preferred brand for oxycodone on
Cigna's group commercial drug lists and will remain so in 2018.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company
dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and
sense of security. All products and services are provided
exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna
Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company,
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of
North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such
products and services include an integrated suite of health
services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy,
vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including
group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains
sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more
than 95 million customer relationships throughout the world. To
learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook
or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171004006161/en/
Cigna CorporationKaren Eldred,
860-787-7015karen.eldred@cigna.com
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