RELEASE
Prescription for savings: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and CivicaScript team up to save members nearly $1,000 per year
Gabby Abel
| 3 min read
DETROIT, May 21, 2025—Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan applauded the positive results of its partnership with CivicaScript today, which has saved members nearly $1,000 annually on a generic prostate cancer drug.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst shows that Blue Cross members who access abiraterone acetate, a generic prostate cancer treatment, through CivicaScript save an average of nearly $1,000 annually compared to those who accessed the drug from other generic manufacturers. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is one of 22 Blue Cross and Blue Shield-licensed health plans that have joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and CivicaRx in co-founding CivicaScript to bring lower-cost generic prescription medications to consumers directly.
"Prescription drug prices keep rising and that puts real pressure on the affordability of health coverage. Our partnership with CivicaScript is just one way we’re working to ease that burden for our members and customers," said Tricia A. Keith, president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “We’re using every tool available to deliver cost-saving solutions and this partnership has already delivered meaningful results we plan to build on.”
In the study, researchers looked at abiraterone acetate, CivicaScript’s first product, to understand how much savings the CivicaScript model could yield. Results showed:
- Patients who access abiraterone acetate from other manufacturers pay $126 a month
- Patients who access abiraterone acetate through CivicaScript paid $45 per month
- CivicaScript saved patients 64%—nearly $1,000 per year
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 29% of Americans reported not taking their medication as prescribed in the last year because of cost. Fortunately, generic medicines are often a more affordable alternative to brand-name drugs, but in recent years, the price of some generics has increased substantially, raising patient costs. CivicaScript works to develop and manufacture generic alternatives for drugs that have too little competition and too high a price.
Health care coverage is the key to health care access and personal wellbeing, and these efforts are one of the many ways Blue Cross is working to make health care more affordable for our members and customers. Visit MIBlueDaily.com/Affordability to learn more about these important issues.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for over 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBlueDaily.com/Affordability.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for over 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBlueDaily.com/Affordability.
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health IndexSM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com.
About CivicaScript
CivicaScript® is the Civica, Inc. operating unit that is bringing unprecedented transparency to the drug supply chain to make quality generic medicines affordable and available for everyone. A public benefit company, CivicaScript is committed to the principles of providing affordable, essential generic medicines to promote the social welfare and health of the community. For more information on the organization and our mission, visit our website.
CivicaScript® is the Civica, Inc. operating unit that is bringing unprecedented transparency to the drug supply chain to make quality generic medicines affordable and available for everyone. A public benefit company, CivicaScript is committed to the principles of providing affordable, essential generic medicines to promote the social welfare and health of the community. For more information on the organization and our mission, visit our website.
