SAIF changes pharmacy benefit provider

Beginning in March 2008, SAIF Corporation, Oregon's not-for-profit, state-chartered workers' compensation insurance provider, will use the Oregon Prescription Drug Program (OPDP) to administer pharmacy benefits for its policyholders. OPDP will replace ReStat as the pharmacy benefit provider for the approximately 45,000 injured workers that SAIF serves each year.

Governor Ted Kulongoski said the new partnership will help control the rising cost of prescription drugs while offering injured workers quicker access to prescriptions. "This partnership is another example of public and private groups working together to improve access to prescription drugs at a cost Oregonians can afford," said Kulongoski.

OPDP pools employer group pharmacy benefit plans with uninsured or underinsured residents to increase its bargaining leverage on behalf of all members. Groups receive competitive rates and transparent contracting.

Last year the Governor announced that the OPDP had pooled with the Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) to form the Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium to further expand their bargaining power. Voters expanded OPDP last November to include all uninsured and in 2007 the legislature expanded group participation to include all private sector businesses, labor organizations and underinsured people. With the addition of SAIF, the Consortium's membership will exceed 350,000.

For more information about SAIF's change OPDP, please contact Allison Knight, 800.285.8525 or allkni@saif.com.