January 20th Statewide Shop Steward Meeting
On January 20th, hundreds of CWA shop stewards from all across the state met in Trenton to begin planning for the coming year. Shop stewards discussed and agreed upon four primary goals:
1. Protect Jobs
2. Protect Our Standard of Living
3. Protect Collective Bargaining
4. Protect the Defined Benefit Pension Plan
CWA New Jersey Area Director Hetty Rosenstein's Remarks at the State Worker Shop Steward Meeting in Trenton, January 20. "We are, without question, facing our greatest challenge as public workers in our history as a union here in New Jersey."
Governor Christie Attempts to Suppress Union Political Action
CWA and its Allies Heading to Court
Medco is attempting to
disallow certain prescriptions. What Medco is trying to do is a violation of
our contract. The national union has submitted a grievance on behalf of all
of us.
We are collecting complaints. Please contact your Steward with your
experience.
Hundreds of members have gotten letters from Medco saying that Medco is denying coverage for certain drugs. Medco apparently is attempting to create a preferred drug list and wants doctors to apply for some “pre-approval” prior to writing prescriptions. This is a clear violation of our contract. Article 20, Section B: states, “each prescription required by competent medical for Federal legend drugs shall be paid for by the State from funds provided for the Program subject to a deductible ….” As we all know there is a co-pay or deductable for generics, brand names when no generic is available and brand names when a generic is available. That is the plan. The fact that the state has changed carriers does NOT change the plan. Medco does NOT get to choose your prescriptions or, in effect, make medical decisions. The decisions for prescribed medicines are between you and your physician. Our Union has even negotiated a appeal process to have you make the generic co-pay on the brand name drug if he believes that you cannot tolerate the generic and need the brand name.
The long and short of it is that insurance companies do not get to make medical decisions.
In the meantime, please keep receipts for any prescription for which payment is refused by Medco.