Scripta Insights Offers Expert Doctor Tips on How to Get Your Prescriptions Safely During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Fill Prescriptions Online, Request an Early Refill and Consider Telehealth to Get Medication, Stay Safe and Healthy

News provided by

Mar 23, 2020, 15:57 ET

WELLESLEY, Mass., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Scripta Insights, a healthcare IT solution that uses technology to create transparency, disrupt and improve the $300B self-funded pharmacy benefits marketplace, shared helpful tips that people can use to ensure they get the prescription medicine they need at this difficult time.

Scripta's panel of doctors and pharmacists recommend keeping several weeks' worth of prescriptions you take regularly on hand in the event that you need to stay home, due to illness or shelter-in-place restrictions, or there are drug shortages at your local pharmacy. They also offer the following tips to help make sure you have the medication supply you need, and that you also get your prescriptions in the safest way possible:

How to Get Your Prescriptions Safely During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Ask your doctor for a 90-day prescription. You can either fill this at your local pharmacy or your health plan may have a mail order pharmacy that will offer discounted copays to send a 90-day supply of medication to your home.
Consider pharmacy home delivery. Many pharmacies offer this service. Both CVS Health and Walgreens have waived all delivery fees during this crisis.
Avoid contact with other shoppers and opt for drive-thru pharmacy pick up. Many pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens and Kroger, offer this type of service.
Fill your prescriptions online. Check if your local pharmacy has an online order option or see if trusted services like PillPack or Capsule are available in your area.
If you need to go to the pharmacy and you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, call ahead. Many pharmacies are happy to make accommodations to help reduce the spread of the virus in the community.
If you're home sick, elderly or at high-risk for COVID-19, stay home and ask a neighbor to pick up your prescriptions. Going to the pharmacy and being around other shoppers can put you at much greater risk. If you can't find someone who can go for you, check and see if your local pharmacy is offering dedicated shopping hours.
Check with your health plan to see if you can fill your prescription early. Typically, this isn't easy, but during the COVID-19 crisis, many plans like Aetna, Humana and Blue Cross Blue Shield have temporarily waived early refill limits.
See if your pharmacy will fill your prescription for a greater fill quantity. During the COVID-19 crisis, some Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are waiving fill quantities on prescriptions, allowing you to stock up and save an extra trip to the pharmacy.
Consider paying cash. If your health plan won't cover an early prescription fill or additional fill quantities, you may still be able to get them for the cash price of the drug, though it can be costly.
If you need a new prescription for a medicine you're already taking, consider telehealth. Given the growing risks and rapid spreading of COVID-19, many doctors are offering telehealth visits to patients. Many insurance providers are covering telehealth visits, and they are now fully covered for patients on Medicare who may be more vulnerable to the virus. These visits can sometimes be completed over the phone for patients without computer access.
Talk to your local pharmacist if you have any issues, they are there to help you. Many pharmacies now offer 24/7 chat services and phone support options.

"As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves day-by-day, we're encouraging everyone to take precautions with their prescription medications. You want to be prepared for the possibility that your normal medications could be affected by supply chain issues, or that going out to get your prescription could become increasingly risky," said Eric Levin, CEO, Scripta Insights. "By taking the advice of Scripta's medical experts now, we hope to help prevent potentially stressful or risky situations as things progress."

About Scripta Insights

Scripta Insights, a company founded by doctors, is using technology to create transparency, disrupt and improve the $300B self-funded pharmacy benefits marketplace.

Scripta is a healthcare IT solution that delivers immediate, real savings on pharmacy benefit costs for self-insured employers, payers and their members. It empowers companies to take control of their pharmacy spend, while helping members get the medicine they need at the best possible price.

Scripta's proprietary software, Script.AI, was developed over a decade and is designed to analyze millions of pharmacy transactions in mere seconds to yield actionable insights. It uses data analytics, AI and expert insights from its P&T Committee to recognize savings opportunities that, until now, have been impossible to identify.

Scripta has saved employers and members millions of dollars on prescriptions.

For more information about Scripta, visit www.scriptainsights.com.

Contact: Kristen Joerger, LKPR Inc., [email protected], 603-494-3295

SOURCE Scripta Insights