If you're concerned about medication safety, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has programs that protect you and your budget.

We work with an expert team of doctors and pharmacists who are looking out for you. They help us develop programs we use to:

• Identify problems with your prescription.
• Make sure you're getting the right drug for your situation.
• Lower prescription drug costs.

Utilization management

Utilization management is monitoring the use of certain prescription drugs. We do this by adding requirements for your plan to cover certain prescription drugs. Or there may be limits on how many times you can fill a prescription. These programs include:

• Step therapy
• Prior authorization
• Quantity limits
• Substituting a generic drug for a brand-name drug where permitted

You can find out if the drug you take has any of these restrictions by looking in your plan's drug list, also called a formulary. You can also call the number on the back of your member ID card.

If you need to request an exception, you or your doctor can submit a coverage determination request.

Drug utilization review

Every time you fill a prescription, we review your records to make sure your prescriptions are safe and appropriate. We do this for all our members on a regular basis.

These reviews are especially important if more than one doctor prescribes medications for you. We look for problems like:

• Possible medication errors
• Drugs that are unnecessary because you're taking another drug to treat the same medical condition
• Drugs that aren't right for you because of your age
• Possible drug interactions
• Drug allergies
• Medication dosing above or below the normal range

If we see a problem, we'll work with your doctor to correct it.

Medication adherence

Not taking your medication as suggested can negatively impact your treatment and health.

Our Medicare pharmacy team reviews your prescription history and makes outreach phone calls to help:

• Make sure your medicine is doing its job
• Provide tips and tools to help you remember to take your medications
• Show you how to save money on prescriptions
• Answer medication questions
• Coordinate care between your doctors and pharmacies
• Minimize the impact of medication side effects
• Ensure easy access to your medications at a local pharmacy or with a delivery service

For any clinical concerns or questions about your medications, contact our team of pharmacists at 1-855-269-9887, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. TTY users call 711. For general inquiries, assistance with prescription drug claims, or refilling a medication please contact one of our certified pharmacy technicians at 1-855-815-9415, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. TTY users call 711.