PHOENIX (Sept. 17, 2021) – Banner Health Insurance Division has selected Express Scripts, Inc. as its pharmacy benefits management partner. Within this agreement, Express Scripts, Inc. will provide pharmacy benefits management services that support Banner - University Health Plans, Banner Medicare Advantage Plans and the new Medicare Part D Plans, Banner Medicare Rx PDP.
By leveraging the unique strengths and resources that Express Scripts offers, Banner Health believes this relationship will help improve members’ experience while helping to lower the cost of healthcare. This transition will help to advance Banner Health’s mission of Making health care easier, so life can be better.
“This partnership will allow our health plans to offer a comprehensive, cost-competitive pharmacy benefit while continuing to elevate and enhance our overall benefits package,” said Banner – University Health Plan CEO James Stringham.
This transition will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022 and plans are already underway to ensure that health plan members have a smooth transition.
“While pharmacy costs are continuing to increase, we also must focus on building a pharmacy benefit package that is easy to understand, easy to use and helps our customers to be their healthiest,” said Steve Macias, CEO of Banner Medicare Advantage.
“In today’s complex environment, maximizing member health while managing pharmacy costs is more important than ever,” said Nikki White, health plan division vice president and general manager at Express Scripts. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with Banner Health and providing Express Scripts’ services and expertise to help them achieve their goals.”
Banner – University Health Plans (B – UHP) is a managed care organization and part of Banner Health. As a Banner division, B – UHP is a locally owned plan focused exclusively in central and southern Arizona with nearly 300,000 members and is a recognized Medicaid managed care leader. B – UHP has been a recognized Medicaid managed care leader since 1985, with a long history of successful operations in Medicaid and Medicare. B – UHP owns and operates: Banner – University Family Care/ACC, an AHCCCS Complete Care plan; Banner – University Family Care/ALTCS, an Arizona Long Term Care plan; and three Banner Medicare Advantage plans, including a dual special needs plan, HMO, and PPO. B – UHP fosters a member-centric culture, is an active community partner, with a mission to make health care easier so life can be better.
About Banner Health
Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services; including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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