If
you have been using an albuterol inhaler for your asthma or related
condition, check to see if it uses CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) as a propellant.
If it does, you will be replacing it by 2009 with an inhaler using HFA (hydrofluoroalkane).
And it will cost you more.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the albuterol inhalers containing CFC to be removed from the marketplace by December 31. They are being replaced by inhalers that use HFA, which is more environmentally friendly.
Several HFA inhalers are available as alternatives to albuterol CFC inhalers; however, they are available only as brand name medications.
As a result of this FDA mandate, several prescription drug manufacturers have stopped producing generic albuterol CFC inhalers, resulting in intermittent supply shortages in retail pharmacies, as well as the inability for large mail-order facilities to receive timely shipments.
As a result, Medco By Mail, cannot dispense generic albuterol CFC inhalers. Any prescription written for an albuterol inhaler or albuterol metered dose inhaler received at Medco By Mail will be filled with a Proventil HFA inhaler – a preferred brand name drug, which requires a higher copayment from you.
Generic albuterol CFC inhalers may continue to be available at your local pharmacy throughout 2008.
If you would like to continue receiving generic albuterol inhalers and your local pharmacy has adequate supplies, your local pharmacist may be able to assist you in transferring the albuterol prescription from Medco By Mail.
The pharmacist may contact Medco By Mail by calling the Empire Plan at 1-877-769-7447 and selecting the prompt for the prescription drug benefit.
When the generic albuterol CFC inhalers are no longer available from your local retail pharmacy, you and your physician should discuss transitioning to an HFA inhaler.
The Health Benefits page of the PEF Web site has a list of albuterol HFA brand-name inhalers, their placement on the 2008 Empire Plan Preferred Drug List, and the Empire Plan copayment at a retail pharmacy or through Medco By Mail.
– Deborah Stayman
