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Post by tbrown on Mar 23, 2015 17:59:29 GMT -5
I was disappointed to learn my local pharmacy Skendarian's Apothecary, discontinued its relationship with Catalan so I no longer can have prescriptions filled at this wonderful independent pharmacy. I gather Catalan cuts payments to the provider so they lose money on each prescription. Harvard normally goes to great lengths to support the community. Skendarian's is on Cambridge Street across from Rindge and Latin School and is one of the few options other than the major corporate chains, e.g., Rite Aid, CVS etc. Indeed, firms like Skendarian hold the community together and improve life for all. I hope Harvard will review this as soon as possible and return to the previous vendor who provided pharmacies with fair compensation for their work.
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Post by vivaveritas on Mar 26, 2015 12:45:37 GMT -5
Dear tbrown:
Thank you for raising this! First of all: We get no word from Harvard about a change in our provider. I (like many others) was going to toss out the Catamaran card because it was not clear what it was for, but I took it to Skenderian's (my beloved pharmacy) in January to ask them about it. That's when I got the heads-up that it was not cost effective for them to fill prescriptions given Catamaran's reimbursement policies and that they might need to drop the Catamaran plan. So, I write to HU Benefits who said, "Skenderian's has a contractual obligation to process claims for Harvard employees under the pharmacy benefits administered by Catamaran. That being said, you have a right to have your claims processed through Catamaran. If you continue to experience claim difficulties please let me know."
I did not think that HU Benefit's reply was accurate or helpful, so I wrote back: "...I certainly am not an expert in this field but as I understand it Skenderian's has no contract with Harvard but they do have an agreement with Catamaran that they can terminate at their will. A few years ago, Harvard made an agreement with Medco that also proved to provide a substandard reimbursement policy (at least vis-à-vis Skenderian’s) and because it affected so many Harvard employees, Harvard adjusted its agreement with Medco and we were able to fill our prescriptions at Skenderian’s once again. I am hoping that Harvard will review and reconsider its current arrangement with Catamaran and make similar adjustments. So, yes, I am still experiencing claim difficulties because I cannot continue to patronize my preferred vendor. What next step do you recommend?
"
HU Beneifts called me to say the same thing--that Skenderian's had a contractual obligation. (Honestly, does Harvard even bother to train its reps?!) Since then Skenderian's has stopped taking Catamaran and I have moved to Maida Pharmacy in Arlington because I too appreciate the community-based pharmacies. I plan to contact HU Benefits again to let them know about this discontinuation and see what they say. Someone suggested that we all go to HUGHP Pharmacy so that Harvard personally starts experiencing Catamaran's substandard reimbursement program.
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Post by H2005 on Mar 26, 2015 15:01:09 GMT -5
A significant number of people are HUGHP members and already go to the Pharmacy (including me). I assume they're already aware of how Catamaran works (or doesn't). But they only fill prescriptions written by HUHS clinicians: "the Pharmacy fills prescriptions written by HUHS clinicians and accepts a variety of insurance prescription plans. All members of the Harvard community can visit the Pharmacy to purchase over-the-counter products." huhs.harvard.edu/services/pharmacy I also know this from experience. |
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FrightenedForTheFuture
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Post by FrightenedForTheFuture on Apr 22, 2015 10:34:27 GMT -5
Briova (Catamaran's speciality pharmacy for injectable drugs) is possibly the most incompetent mail order pharmacy ever. I am still trying to get a RX filled that was written mid-march.
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