Project Results

To see results of the Evaluation project done on the "ONECARD Rx" project by the Lewin Group, click here.

Public Policy Goal:

To implement and test an innovative system for integrating the prescription drug benefits provided through traditional health insurance and workers' compensation in order to improve the quality of care provided to injured workers.

Project Objective:

Develop and implement an integrated process for workers to obtain pharmaceuticals prescribed for occupational or non-occupational conditions. Then to compare the costs and convenience of the use of the "ONECARD Rx" with injured workers using the traditional method of obtaining prescription drugs prescribed for their injury.

1. To determine if the State of New York can decrease its expenditures for workers' compensation prescription drugs;
2. To determine if the use of the "ONECARD Rx" helps guard against adverse drug interactions and cost shifting
3. To simplify employee purchase of prescriptions;
4. To capture accurate and complete cost information for health insurance and workers' compensation on prescription drugs;
5. To determine if benefits found for the use of the "ONECARD Rx", are likely to be transferable.

Project Description:

This project developed and implemented a process to integrate the workers' compensation and health insurance prescription drug program for New York State employees. A separate project evaluated the results of the "ONECARD Rx." (See the " ONECARD Rx" Integrated Prescription Service - Evaluation Project )

Key Findings or Accomplishments:

1. This was the first national attempt at integrating occupational and non-occupational prescription drug benefits;
2. This was a tremendously challenging and ambitious project. The integrated program was designed with the participation of five separate state agencies and four separate service plans. The implementation involved all state agencies, the state workers' compensation fund, multiple health insurance plans for state employees and virtually all pharmacies within the state.
3. Project provided a testing ground to learn about the technical complexities involved in combining workers' compensation and general health insurance programs;

Tools Developed:

• Findings from the ONECARD Rx Satisfaction Survey
  • Workers' Compensation ONECARD Rx Satisfaction Survey
  • Workers' Compensation Prescription Drug Benefit Satisfaction Survey

Grantee Website: New York State Workers Compensation Program/Health Insurance Prescription Drug Program

Materials Developed:

• Implementation Guide
• Accident Reporting System Poster
• NYSHIP HMO Report 1/99
• NYS Workers' Compensation Update 5/98
• Print Advertisement (Published in CSEA, PEF, Council 82 and OMCE New Publications)
• Print Advertisement (Published in PEF 1999 Health & Safety Conference Brochure)
• "Health Insurance Choices and 1999 Rates" (Option Transfer Publication)
• NYS Workers' Compensation Program Overview
• Accident Reporting System Acknowledgement Letter
• ARS/ONECARD Rx Publications- complete collection listing
• NYS Workers' Compensation Bulletin 5/99
• "Introducing NYSHIP Prescription Drug Coverage for CSEA HMO Enrollees"
• "Workers' Compensation Pharmacy Benefit Questionnaire"

Reports and Publications:

• Final Report "ONECARD Rx: Demonstration Project" prepared by Stephanie T. Washington, NYS Department of Civil Service, August 31, 1999.

Presentations:

Stephanie Washington, Yasamin DiCiccio, and David Stapleton, "Findings of the Workers' Compensation Claimant Survey," New York State Department of Civil Service Employee Benefits Division, October 3, 2001, Albany, NY.

Future Plans:

The ONECARD Rx program will continue beyond the grant period. Additional health plans were considering implementation at the end of the grant period.