Beginning Aug. 1, 2008, the STRS Ohio Health Care Program will offer a $0 copayment for designated Medicare Part B-covered drugs and supplies that are coordinated with Medicare. At its June 2008 meeting, the Retirement Board approved this program change for individuals who receive their prescription drugs through Express Scripts (enrollees in the Aetna and Medical Mutual health care plans). The $0 copayment will apply to Medicare Part B drugs and supplies that are dispensed by a participating Medicare retail pharmacy or through Express Scripts’ Medicare Part B mail-order pharmacy, NationsHealth.

Select medications in the following therapeutic classes are eligible for coordination under Medicare Part B:

• diabetic testing supplies;

• respiratory medications and nebulizers; and

• immunosuppressive, oral anticancer and oral antiemetic medications.

It’s important to understand that the new $0 copayment applies only to specific drugs/supplies that are coordinated with Medicare Part B. It does not apply to drugs/supplies covered by the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. In addition, you will continue to pay the applicable STRS Ohio copayment for all other medications that are not eligible for coordination under Medicare Part B.

To obtain the $0 copayment for coordinated Medicare Part B drugs/supplies:

1. You must be enrolled in an STRS Ohio health care plan administered by Aetna or Medical Mutual.

2. The drug/supply must be eligible for coverage and coordination under Medicare Part B and your STRS Ohio Prescription Drug Program;

3. The drug/supply must be dispensed by either a retail pharmacy that is licensed to submit claims to Medicare Part B or NationsHealth, Express Scripts’ Medicare Part B mail-order pharmacy; and

4. The claim for the eligible drug/supply must be coordinated with Medicare, meaning it must be submitted to Medicare first for primary payment and then to Express Scripts.

For more information about this new program, click the links below, or contact the Member Services Center, toll-free at 1-888-227-7877.

Medicare Coordination of Benefits Letter

Medicare Coordination of Benefits FAQs

Medicare Coordination of Benefits Drug/Supply List

Contact STRS Ohio