Drug Information
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What is Empire's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee?
Empire's Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee is an independent group of practicing physicians and pharmacists that meets regularly to review new and existing drugs. They select drugs to be included in Empire's drug list/formulary based on safety and how well they work. The P&T Committee periodically updates the list to make sure it meets the needs of our members and includes the newest drugs as they become available. All the drugs included on the drug list/formulary have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The drug list (formulary) is routinely reviewed to ensure that decisions are based on the most up-to-date information.
Click here to learn more about our drug list selection process – Empire BlueCross.
Click here to learn more about our drug list selection process – Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
Drug Choices for Specific Conditions
Click on choice below to learn about how drug choices are selected for specific conditions.
 | Asthma – Empire BlueCross BlueShield |
| Statins – Empire BlueCross BlueShield |
The Drug List/Formulary
The Empire Drug List/Formulary is Empire's preferred medication list and contains hundreds of drugs. It lists the most commonly prescribed medications selected by Empire's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
Click on one of the two versions below to read or print the drug list/formulary:
How to use the drug list/formulary to save money on prescription drugs:
1. Print it and take it with you to every doctor's visit in case your doctor prescribes a medication.
2. Ask your doctor to consider prescribing a generic medication whenever possible. You can also ask your pharmacist to suggest a generic alternative and get it approved by your doctor.
3. If a generic alternative is not available, ask your doctor to consider a drug listed on the drug list.
Specialty Injectable Medications
For specialty injectable medications to be covered under Empire's pharmacy plan, prescriptions for these drugs must be filled by CuraScript, Empire’s preferred specialty pharmacy.
For more information, call 1-800-870-6419. Care advocates are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time.
There may be dose optimization guidelines for certain medications to help ensure you are taking your medications as recommended by the manufacturer and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dose optimization normally means a change from twice-daily dosing to a once-per-day dosing schedule. If your prescription exceeds the dosing limit guidelines, your pharmacist may contact the prescribing physician to determine if a different dose is appropriate. If so, the prescription will be filled at the new dosage. If there are medical reasons for the medication dosing schedule as originally prescribed, the physician can request prior authorization review.
 | | These drugs have the letters "DO" next to them on the drug list/formulary. |
| | To receive prior authorization approval, your doctor or pharmacist should call or fax the required information for approval to our Prior Authorization center. If you have questions, call the number on the back of your member ID card. |
Quantity Limitations (QL)*
For certain medications, your doctor or pharmacist is required to first contact Empire’s pharmacy program if the prescription is written for more then a certain allowed amount.
| | These drugs have the letters "QL" next to them on the drug list/formulary. |
| | To receive prior authorization approval, your doctor or pharmacist should call or fax the required information for approval to our Prior Authorization center. If you have questions, call the number on the back of your member ID card. |
| | If the requested quantity is approved, the prescription will be filled. |
Prior Authorization Requests (PA)*
Certain drugs require prior authorization by your doctor or pharmacist before a prescription can be filled.
| | These drugs have the letters "PA" next to them on the drug list/formulary. |
| | To receive prior authorization approval, your doctor or pharmacist should call or fax the required information for approval to our Prior Authorization center. If you have questions, call the number on the back of your member ID card. |
| | If the drug is approved, the prescription will be filled. |
Prior authorization promotes safety as well as affordable prescribing by monitoring the use of drugs with:
| | Risk of serious side effects or dangerous drug interactions |
| | High potential for incorrect or inappropriate use |
| | Other clinically similar alternatives |
| | Restrictions for the treatment of specific conditions |
Offering customers a choice of safe, effective and affordable medications - that’s our goal. There are many prescription medications on the market today. Which are the most effective? Which offer the best value? Are there recognized prescribing guidelines that should be followed? One way we help customers and their physicians choose medications that are clinically appropriate and cost effective is through the step therapy process.
Generic drugs may save you money.
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