Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Collaborative Support of CivicaScript® Helps Save Patients Nearly $1,000 per Year on a Generic Drug

Birmingham, Alabama -A unique approach to improving access to lower-cost generic medications has led to an average savings of nearly $1,000 per year for Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) members who use the drug.

A study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst examined the savings from the first generic drug offered by CivicaScript^®, a partnership among BCBS companies.

"Collaborating with other Blue Plans to support CivicaScript's initiatives represents a significant advancement in addressing health disparities, both in Alabama and nationwide," said Dr. Dow Briggs, Executive Vice President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. "I'm proud of the progress that has been made - these efforts are one of the many ways we are making health care more affordable for the people and communities we serve."

In the study New England Journal of Medicine researchers looked at CivicaScript's first product, abiraterone acetate, a treatment for prostate cancer, to understand how much savings the CivicaScript model could yield. Results showed:

• Patients who access abiraterone acetate from other manufacturers pay $126 a month
• Patients who access abiraterone acetate through CivicaScript paid $45 per month
• CivicaScript saved patients 64%-nearly $1,000 per year

Generic medicines are often a more affordable alternative to brand-name drugs, but in recent years, the price of some generics has increased substantially, raising costs for patients. CivicaScript works to develop and manufacture generic alternatives for drugs that have too little competition and too high of a price. They focus on transparency and collaboration throughout the value chain from manufacturing through dispensing and pass the cost savings along to patients.

According to a survey, nearly 80% of respondents said the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. is "unreasonable," 29% reported not taking their medication as prescribed in the last year because of cost and 8% said their condition got worse because they did not take the drug as recommended.

CivicaScript is expected to launch additional products by fall of 2025, bringing about more savings for American families and employers. CivicaScript builds on the mission of sister company Civica, Inc. (Civica Rx®), which works to prevent chronic shortages of hospital-based medicines and the price spikes that often accompany them.

Early this year, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association launched an affordability roadmap that could save the country nearly $1 trillion over 10 years, which includes solutions to ending pharmaceutical companies' market manipulation tactics that prevent lower-cost, generic alternatives from reaching patients.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has insured Alabamians for over 89 years. Blue Cross offers coverage plans to corporations, individuals and the senior market. For more information about Blue Cross, visit AlabamaBlue.com. Connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on X for more up-to-date information.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.

About CivicaScript®

CivicaScript® is the Civica, Inc. operating unit that is bringing unprecedented transparency to the drug supply chain to make quality generic medicines affordable and available for everyone. A public benefit company, CivicaScript is committed to the principles of providing affordable, essential generic medicines to promote the social welfare and health of the community.

More member details are available here. For more information on the organization and our mission, visit our website.