For Immediate Release: June 21, 2021
For more information contact:
Kelly Cannon
Kelly.Cannon@BlueKC.com
O: 816-395-3711
M: 816-686-3842
KANSAS CITY, MO. (June 21, 2021)—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) – in partnership with The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), 16 other locally and independently run Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and Anthem, Inc. – is proud to announce CivicaScript, an initiative focused on bringing lower-cost generic prescription medicines to millions of people across the U.S.
In 2020, Civica Rx, BCBSA, Blue KC and an additional 16 independent and locally-operated BCBS companies announced the formation of a new, yet-to-be-named subsidiary – now CivicaScript – that would focus on bringing lower-cost generic prescription medicines directly to consumers in hospital or retail pharmacies. Anthem has now joined the other BCBS companies and BCBSA to capitalize the new venture. Combined, these health plan leaders represent more than 83 million lives.
The CivicaScript partnership will translate into cost savings for Blue KC’s members and their families as 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.
“At Blue KC, we believe everyone should have access to safe, effective, essential prescription medicines when they need them, at a price they can afford,” said Jay Weaver, Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at Blue KC. “The CivicaScript initiative is one of the many ways Blue KC is striving to improve quality of care while driving down costs for our members.”
CivicaScript also announced their drug development and manufacturer partner Catalent Inc., a global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, will develop a range of CivicaScript-owned generic prescription medicine Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).
CivicaScript will initially develop and manufacture 6 to 10 common but high-priced generic medicines for which there is currently not enough market competition to drive down price. Using a cost-plus and price transparent model, CivicaScript also plans to innovate and further transform the supply chain to lower the cost of prescription medicines. CivicaScript will work to deliver these medicines to U.S. patients at a fraction of their current cost, saving consumers hundreds of millions of dollars annually within a few years post launch. The first CivicaScript generic medicines will be available to consumers as early as 2022 through retail and mail-order pharmacies.
“The cost for prescription medicines in the United States exceeds those in any other country in the world,” said Dr. Greg Sweat, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Blue KC. “This partnership is one of the many ways Blue KC is ensuring patients’ needs come first, and that cost savings are passed along to consumers to help decrease healthcare costs and work to improve the quality of care.”
To learn more about the partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and Civica Rx and the CivicaScript initiative visit https://www.bcbs.com/civica-rx.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com.