Tyson Foods seeks drug prescription savings for employees
Apr. 13—SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods Inc. is using the power of technology to help its U.S. employees and their families save money on prescription drugs, according to a company news release.
The company is partnering with Rx Savings Solutions to provide a free, confidential online tool that gives team members and their covered dependents ways to pay less for the medications covered through the company's health plan. The prescription drug savings software examines the medications a member takes and finds lower-cost options to treat the same conditions. The savings can be generic, less expensive forms of a name-brand drug or various options based on prescriptions taken.
The personalized recommendations are proactively communicated via email, text message, app notification, phone or direct mail to all employees who opt into the program. There is also an online "search for medication" tool available to help find savings suggestions for any drug a doctor prescribes. Interpreter and translation assistance will be available when Tyson Foods rolls out the prescription drugs savings solution to its 120,000 U.S. employees this month.
"This initiative is part of our work to promote a culture of well-being and, ultimately, build a healthier work force," Johanna Söderström, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Tyson Foods, said. "It's designed to help our people better understand the prescription drug options available to them and ways they can save money."
"We are delighted to work with Tyson in improving the health and well-being of their team members," Michael Rea, a clinical pharmacist who founded and currently leads Rx Savings Solutions, said. "We established Rx Savings Solutions to bring transparency to the world of prescription drugs and remove its complexity, so consumers can make the most educated choices about where, how and at what price they purchase medications. By working together, we not only offer options for affordability, but more importantly, overall better health."
Limiting prescription drug costs is an element of Tyson Foods' total rewards philosophy, which is focused on helping team members live healthier, happier lives, while thriving professionally and financially.
Tyson Foods provides its employees and their covered dependents affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits. The company requires all regular, full-time team members who have completed 59 days of employment to have health care coverage through either the company-sponsored health plan or through a family members plan. This means that 100 percent of the company's eligible team members have access to health care coverage.
Tyson Foods recently announced the appointment of Dr. Claudia Coplein to the newly created role of chief medical officer. In addition, the company has an occupational health staff of almost 600 nurses and plans to pilot the opening of seven health clinics this year to give Tyson team members and their covered dependents easier access to high-quality health care, in most cases at no cost.
