Doctors, patient advocates and insurers themselves are telling
Americans with chronic conditions such as diabetes that require life
saving medications to make sure they have more than enough medicine
on hand. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also
says people should have extra medicine available.
"Typically for say a month or two you should have access to
medicines, and any basic essentials that you might need to leave the
house for," said Dr. Neha Nanda, medical director of infection
prevention and antimicrobial stewardship with Keck Medicine of the
University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which provides health services to
people infected with HIV, said it was extending the usual 30-day
refill time for antiretroviral treatment and other medications to 60
days even without medical provider approval, AHF spokesman Ged
Kenslea said.
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Health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers have been pressured to
address potential access issues around COVID-19, the disease caused
by the new coronavirus. Many have responded by waiving copayments
related to the diagnostic test and other upfront out-of-pocket
costs.
David Dross, who leads the managed pharmacy practice at health
benefits firm Mercer, said the industry is being flexible because of
the unprecedented impact of the outbreak.
More than 1,600 people have tested positive for the virus across 47
states, according to the CDC. The effort to slow its spread has led
to mass disruption including closures of schools, offices, and large
gatherings like sporting events.
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They are thinking "if they canceled March Madness for God's sake ... we need to
be flexible," Dross said, referring to the popular annual college basketball
playoffs.
In addition to diabetes or HIV, access to medicines that treat chronic
conditions such as pulmonary disease and high blood pressure are of particular
concern.
CVS Health Corp said patients who typically pick up a 30-day prescription should
consider changing that to 90 days. It also said Aetna patients who typically
refill prescriptions every 30 days can extend that to a 90-day supply.
Anthem is urging members who have a pharmacy plan that allows for a 90-day
benefit to talk to their doctor about whether extending their prescription is
appropriate, spokeswoman Leslie Porras said in a statement.
Cigna Corp, which owns the Express Scripts pharmacy benefit manager, is
recommending that patients who currently receive a 30-day supply switch to a
90-day supply, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Luddy.
UnitedHealth Group Inc, which owns OptumRX pharmacy benefit manager, also said
customers could call for early refills on their prescriptions.
(Reporting by Caroline Humer in New York and Deena Beasley and Lisa Baertlein in
Los Angeles; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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