July 19, 2018
We’ve found that Lidocaine products can cost our members about 20 time the average price of a $13 generic. Starting September 4, 2018, Premera won’t cover the cost of brand Lidocaine if there’s a lower cost alternative available. Your patients may contact you to discuss switching to a lower-cost, generic alternative. If there’s a medical reason to continue your patient on brand Lidocaine, you have 2 options:
- Submit proper documentation showing the patient tried and “failed” at least 2 generic alternatives and there’s a medical reason they need to remain on brand Lidocaine.
- Call our pharmacy services team at 888-261-1756 for a prescription review and approval. Our pharmacy services team is available 7 days a week and holidays.
This policy change is an effort to help our customers find and use affordable alternatives to high-cost medications because we know paying for high-cost medications is a concern for our customers.