E-Memo

for Members of Lancaster County Business Group on Health

What are Preferred Products?

National Coalition Preferred Products

As you know, Lancaster County Business Group on Health (LCBGH) is a member of the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH). By virtue of that fact, LCBGH members are also members of the national coalition and are entitled to the benefits of that relationship, whether or not LCBGH is an active participant. These are some NBCH resources that are options available to you as a coalition member.

The national coalition (NBCH) performed its own due diligence and RFPs and negotiated umbrella contracts with both ExpressScripts and Walgreen's, using the collective number of lives of all participating coalitions on a sliding scale basis. These are called NBCH Preferred Products and they are capable of being tailored to the needs of individual member companies around the country. Any coalition, like LCBGH, that belongs to the national group is entitled to offer these products to its own members. In addition, whether or not LCBGH acts as an intermediary to the NBCH products, any coalition member can still participate, for reasons stated above.

Although LCBGH would not actively promote RX products, would not negotiate in any way and would not perform administrative functions for the plans, we can act as a link for our member companies to learn more about how to actively participate in NBCH Preferred Products as individual entities. The LCBGH Board has approved this option.

Participation in NBCH products is not mandatory. Some LCBGH members may not even be eligible, and there may or may not be any savings for those who decide to consider this option. You sign your own contracts and confidentiality agreement and pay fees based on the services that you select under your individual contract.

This is merely an option our members may wish to explore in the quest for the best value of the prescription dollar. If LCBGH discontinues participation as an intermediary in the NBCH carve-outs, our members are still covered as long as LCBGH remains a member of the National Business Coalition on Health. Call the office at 717-239-6954 for further information.