During the week of November 13, ATDA Vice President Brandon Denucci traveled to Arizona, Illinois, and New Jersey, representing the Organization’s members covered by the National Health & Welfare Plan. Denucci is ATDA’s subcommittee member of the Cooperating Railway Labor Organization (CRLO). The subcommittee and carrier representatives met jointly with representatives from CVS, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx as part of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) “rebid.”
The rebidding is part of the National Agreement signed in 2022. Major pharmacy brands CVS, Express Scripts, Optum Rx, and others are competing to become the PBM of the National Health & Welfare Plan. As administrator of the Plan’s prescription drug benefit, the PBM plays the important role of negotiating drug prices with manufacturers, fulfilling mail-order prescriptions and process administrative functions. Explaining why the process is so important, Denucci said, “Prescription drug benefits make up nearly 30% of the overall cost to the Healthcare Plan. As such, it is important that we not only monitor the expenses incurred by the Plan, but also ensure that our members are receiving the best possible care and service available”. The bid process will continue into 2024, and no changes will go into effect prior to January 1, 2025.