Drastically reducing out-of-pocket costs for insulin
1 in 4 diabetics are currently rationing their insulin over affordability concerns.1
To make this life-saving medication affordable and accessible to all Americans, Civica will begin manufacturing and distributing insulin with a recommended purchase price of no more than $30 per vial – a savings of nearly $400 for uninsured and underinsured individuals.
CivicaScript: Bringing generic drugs to consumers at the lowest sustainable price
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies believe everyone should have access to safe, effective prescription medicines when they need them and at a price they can afford.
That’s why, in 2020, Civica Rx, an initial 17 BCBS companies and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association announced the formation of a new, yet-to-be-named subsidiary – now CivicaScript – focused on bringing lower-cost generic prescription medications directly to consumers in hospital or retail pharmacies.
Since then, Anthem, Inc. and Health Care Service Corporation have joined the other BCBS companies as members of the initiative and Catalent, Inc., a leading global drug development and manufacturing company, has entered into a long-term partnership with CivicaScript to produce essential generic prescription medicines that are widely prescribed for patients.
Read more about our partnership
Our partnership with Civica Rx on the CivicaScript initiative means savings for individuals and families. Initial generic prescription medicines are expected to be available in 2022 through retail and mail-order pharmacies, with an anticipated hundreds of millions in savings generated annually.
How our partnership works:
Prioritize generic prescription medicines with the biggest potential for savings
Produce high-quality generic prescription medicines
Ensure savings are passed on to patients
Invite other companies who believe patients come first to join us
Working together, we can lower the cost of prescription drugs
“Making sure consumers have access to the medicines they need at a price they can afford is a top priority for BCBSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the country,” said Kim Keck, president and CEO of BCBSA. “That is why we co-founded CivicaScript last year, so together we can help get safe, effective and affordable medicines to consumers as quickly as possible.”
— Kim Keck, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
This partnership on the CivicaScript initiative is one of the many ways BCBS companies are ensuring patients’ needs come first, and that cost savings are passed along to consumers to help decrease healthcare costs and ensure high-quality healthcare.
- Investing to meet the need for affordable medicines
- BCBS data shows price transparency critical to addressing prescription drug costs
- When it comes to prescription cost and quality, putting consumers in the driver’s seat
- Why prescription drug costs are going up
- Addressing drug pricing through innovation: informing patients about sudden price spikes
- Patients and their doctors can now compare drug prices right in the exam room
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes. On average, generic prescription medicines cost less than brand name medicines. There are select high-cost generic prescription medicines that are more expensive.
BCBS companies are not directly involved in manufacturing. Catalent Inc., a global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, is CivicaScript’s drug development and manufacturer partner. They will develop a range of CivicaScript-owned generic prescription medicine Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).
Right now, we’re focusing on select high-cost generic prescription medicines that treat a range of health conditions. CivicaScript will share the specifics prior to making them available in 2022.
Yes. CivicaScript works with high-quality manufacturers to ensure each generic prescription medicine produced is FDA-approved as safe and effective.
We anticipate this partnership will provide hundreds of millions in savings that will, in turn, be passed along to those in need of these important medications. Research suggests prices for select high-cost generic prescription medicines can be reduced to a fraction of their current costs, saving patients hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
BCBS Members of the CivicaScript initiative:
If you share our passion for affordable, quality medications, we invite you to join our partnership.
We welcome all interested pharmacies, health plans, employers, wholesalers and other innovators to participate. Contact us to share your interest and we will get back to you with more information.