FAQs

Currently NEXPLANON is offered through 2 distributors, CuraScript and CVS Caremark/ TheraCom. Please note that only health care providers who have attended a Merck Clinical Training Program are authorized to purchase NEXPLANON.

Merck has contracted with 2 specialty distributors: CuraScript and CVS Caremark/ TheraCom.

At this time Merck has chosen to use only CuraScript and CVS Caremark/TheraCom.  Additional distributors may be available in the future.

As with any medication, the cost to the patient will depend on the patient’s health coverage.  Most patients have public or private medical coverage that may cover the cost of NEXPLANON.  For complete details, please contact the patient’s insurer.

If you are a clinician ordering NEXPLANON on behalf of a patient, complete details on the cost of NEXPLANON can be obtained from either of our distributors. You can contact the CuraScript Call Center at 1.866.844.0148 or the CVS Caremark/TheraCom Call Center at 1.866.318.3492 for more information.

The procedure code is 11981 for insertion, and 11982 for removal.  If the procedure performed is a combination of removal and reinsertion, then 11983 can be used.

CuraScript, Inc., a subsidiary of Express Scripts (ESRX), is one of the largest, independent specialty pharmaceutical services companies in the United States.  CuraScript offers wholesale distribution and specialty pharmacy services, including the nation’s leading fertility pharmacy, Freedom Fertility Pharmacy.  With this combined offering, CuraScript has become an established provider of women’s health products.

Physicians who choose to purchase NEXPLANON directly may do so through CuraScript’s wholesale distribution channel. CuraScript’s physician customers enjoy an easy ordering experience, complementary express shipping, and personalized customer service to meet the individual needs of their practice.

Complementing its distribution service, CuraScript also offers patient-specific specialty pharmacy services. Our pharmacy services are designed to offer additional opportunities to help support your practice and patients with superior customer service, exceptional patient care and better clinical outcomes.

At CuraScript, you will have access to our expert customer service and clinical staff from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST.

No, there is no fee for using CuraScript; however, the patient will be responsible for any co-payment, co-insurance and/or deductible as determined by her insurance plan.

CuraScript offers physicians the option of opening an account to purchase NEXPLANON.  With a CuraScript account, you can access a 90-day line of credit and place your order by paying with a credit card.

To open an account with CuraScript, simply complete the one-time Account Application form.  To expedite the account set-up process, return the completed application along with a copy of your State Medical License, DEA license and a list of trained clinicians authorized to place orders on the account.  Applications can be submitted to our dedicated NEXPLANON fax number at 1.866.389.7928.

Account setup is complete within 48 hours in most cases.  Someone from CuraScript’s NEXPLANON customer support team will contact you within 24 hours to confirm receipt of your application and again once account setup is complete.

To order NEXPLANON you must first establish an account with CuraScript. To set up an account, you must complete a credit application and attach the applicable supporting documentation. The credit application must be fully completed and signed by the principle owner of the liable party.

Key areas to be completed in the application:

• Type of organization and federal tax ID number - This allows CuraScript to use an external reporting agency to verify credit worthiness and in most cases enables the account to be opened within 24 hours.

• Contact person (A/P and Purchasing) - This information is necessary for CuraScript to manage your account.

• Financial statements (not listed) - This is not a requirement, but will expedite the turnaround time. If the information received from the credit investigation is incomplete, CuraScript may require this information to support the credit limit required to make purchases on terms.

• Average monthly purchases - This field is not required, but is helpful to determine credit line needed to support purchases.

• Vendor references - Please provide references in which you purchase on a line of credit, preferably other drug and/or medical supply vendors. Leases and utilities are not suitable references.

• Bank references - Please provide banking information for your primary account and line of credit (if applicable). Please verify that the account number appears completely and is legible. Also, providing the name of your relationship manager is helpful in assisting CuraScript in providing the information and speeds up the processing time.

• Terms and conditions - Please read and have a business principal sign. Credit applications without signature cannot be processed. 

1. Access a 90-day line of credit or use a credit card payment through your CuraScript account.

2. Order NEXPLANON via prescription order.

CuraScript Account
If you do not already have a CuraScript account, you can open an account by following the steps outlined above. Once you have your account number, you can order by calling 1.866.844.0148.

Once you have your account number, you can order by calling 1.866.844.0148 or order online.

All orders received by 7:00 pm EST are processed the same day and shipped second day delivery via UPS or FedEx. Emergency shipping is also available upon request.

Prescription Order
When NEXPLANON is covered as a pharmacy benefit, prescription orders may be placed for individual patients. To initiate a prescription order with CuraScript, complete a CuraScript Benefits Investigation Form or call CuraScript at 1.866.844.0148 to submit a prescription.

Once we receive your request, a CuraScript representative will perform an in-depth benefit investigation.  Once the investigation is complete, CuraScript will contact the patient (via phone) and your office (via fax of an EOB) to review the referral.  The benefits investigation process is complete within 48 hours in most cases.

If NEXPLANON is covered under the patient’s insurance plan, a CuraScript representative will contact the patient to discuss any financial responsibility (if any) and your office to coordinate the delivery of NEXPLANON to your office.

To request a benefits investigation, compete the CuraScript Benefits Investigation Form or call CuraScript at 1.866.844.0148.  Once we receive your request, a CuraScript representative will perform an in-depth benefit investigation. Once the investigation is complete, CuraScript will contact the patient (via phone) and your office (via fax of an Explanation of Benefits) to review the referral. The benefits investigation process is complete within 48 hours in most cases.

Yes, CuraScript can administer FSS and PHS (340b) and Apexus discounts for covered entities. CuraScript’s contract team can set up your account to support this special pricing. 

Please check with the HRSA website or with your facility to determine if you are PHS or 340b eligible.

CVS Caremark/TheraCom NEXPLANON Direct offers support services designed for physicians and their patients considering NEXPLANON. CVS Caremark/TheraCom can provide a variety of services to both you and your patient. These services include benefits investigation as well as wholesale (Buy and Bill) and retail (Specialty Pharmacy) distribution.

First, once you complete the provided service request form or place a call to NEXPLANON Direct, CVS Caremark/TheraCom will contact your patient’s insurance company and research your patient’s insurance benefit coverage for NEXPLANON and the insertion and removal procedure. Their detailed benefits investigation entails researching all possible options for coverage for NEXPLANON. These options will include verification of both the pharmacy benefit and medical benefit, including benefits applied to physician’s buy and bill. CVS Caremark/TheraCom’s goal through their benefits investigation is to identify the NEXPLANON coverage option that offers the lowest out-of-pocket responsibility for your patient.

Second, depending on the results of the benefits investigation, CVS Caremark/TheraCom can ship NEXPLANON directly to you if you wish to purchase the product and bill the cost directly to the patient’s insurance company. In some cases, CVS Caremark/TheraCom may also be able to dispense for your patient. In this case, CVS Caremark/TheraCom will bill the insurance company directly for the product costs. Either way, CVS Caremark/TheraCom will ship the product directly to the office or institution of your choice.

NEXPLANON orders are received via phone or fax by CVS Caremark/TheraCom NEXPLANON Direct Team at 1.866.318.3492 (phone) or 1.866.769.3882 (fax), or order online.

Orders will be shipped second-day delivery unless there is an immediate need for product due to scheduled procedure date, in which case a one-day delivery can be requested.

Orders will be processed either through our Specialty Pharmacy (single patient ordering) or through our Specialty Distribution (Buy and Bill or larger direct purchase quantity ordering).

You will need to provide the following information on the Service Request Form (SRF):

• Direct Purchase/Wholesale Order (Buy and Bill)
  a. Prescriber’s name
  b. Prescriber’s demographics, including address and phone
  c. Billing address if different than shipping information
  d. Quantity requested
  e. Credit card information
  f.  Requested delivery date
  g. Tax identification number
  h. Signature of the contact placing the order and the name of the trained clinician

• Retail Order (Specialty Pharmacy)
  a. Complete patient name and address and insurance information
  b. Complete prescriber information and authorization
  c. Prescription information for NEXPLANON
  All verbal orders will be taken by a registered pharmacist.

The Service Request Form allows you to either request that a benefit investigation be performed or to simply place an order for NEXPLANON.  Once the benefits have been investigated for your patient, CVS Caremark/TheraCom NEXPLANON Direct will provide you with information related to your patient’s coverage for NEXPLANON and if the insurance company will require that your office Buy and Bill the product or if CVS Caremark/TheraCom can dispense the product and bill the patient’s insurance company directly.  The ease of one toll-free number for placing your order will assist you in this decision.  Based on whether you are going to order NEXPLANON on a patient-by-patient basis via Pharmacy or if you choose to order Buy and Bill wholesale and/or order product in volume, CVS Caremark/TheraCom will assist you in determining the process as indicated on the service request form.