Integration of workers' compensation and health insurance prescription drug programs: how does it work and do employees use it?
BACKGROUND
In 1998, New York State designed and developed an integrated workers' compensation (WC)/health plan prescription drug program, ONECARD Rx, in response to cost inefficiencies within the then current system and in an attempt to improve the quality of care provided to WC claimants. This paper describes the benefit's design and development process and factors related to its use.


METHODS
Users and non-users of the program were surveyed through a mailed questionnaire with appropriate telephone follow-up.


RESULTS
Eight steps were followed in the development of the benefit. Results obtained from the assessment of ONECARD Rx suggest that factors affecting use mainly relate to the knowledge of both, employees and pharmacists, of the program. The two main differences detected between users and non-users included the state agency the employee works for and the site of residence.


CONCLUSIONS
Innovative strategies that couple private and public agencies should aim at reducing the costs and eliminating inefficiencies while improving the quality of care, of which satisfaction is an important component.
Saleh
Shadi
S
Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, One University Place, Rensselaer, New York 12144, USA. ssaleh@albany.edu
Washington
Stephanie
S
Stapleton
David
D
Livermoore
Gina
G
D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018511:Systems Integration; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data